Sharath Kamal signs for new club

Sharath Kamal ended his five-year association with Borussia Dusseldorf and is set to join Schwalbe Bergneustadt for the new season.

Sharath Kamal will be playing for Schwalbe Bergneustadt in the upcoming season.

Sharath Kamal, India’s No.1 table tennis player, who has been training with European club Borussia Dusseldorf for five years from 2012-13, has signed for a new club, Schwalbe Bergneustadt, for the new season. Schwalbe has in its ranks players such as Benedikt Duda (World ranked 48), Steffen Mengel (60) among others.

It was a conscious decision, said Sharath, on his decision to opt for a new club. “I wanted to spend more time with my family [which I couldn’t playing with Dusseldorf], and at the same time be in India so that I can work with the Indian coach Massimo Constantini with an eye on the 2018 Commonwealth Games scheduled in Australia,” he said.

Further explaining his rationale, Sharath said since Schwalbe is a mid-table team, he would have to play lesser number of matches, and hence will get time to play in a few more Pro Tours. “That way, there will be less amount of pressure on me. Having said that, I will get good quality of matches to play,” he said.

With his focus on the CWG — in what could, probably, be his swansong event — Sharath said he would work with Constantini, who is one of his favourite coaches, on the doubles pairings too for the quadrennial event.