Sreeja Akula Makes History as She Sets Sights on 2024 Paris Olympics

Sreeja Akula has etched her name in Indian table tennis history by becoming the first player from the country to clinch a WTT Contender singles title. Her historic victory has propelled her to a career-high ranking of 24. It has also made her India’s top paddler. Riding high on this wave of success, the 25-year-old is now eyeing further glory at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Sreeja’s remarkable journey this year includes key victories and a consistent run of form. Notably, she played a crucial role in securing India’s qualification for the team event at the Paris Olympics. She will compete in both the team and individual events, bringing her high confidence and recent successes to the grand stage.

In an interview with Ultimate Table Tennis, Sreeja expressed her readiness for the upcoming Olympics. “It’s my debut Olympic Games, but I think I am well prepared for the tournament. I just want to play my best in whichever event I am playing and just want to create the maximum number of upsets,” she said.

Sreeja’s impressive performances began gaining attention in 2022 when she teamed up with Achanta Sharath Kamal to win the mixed doubles gold at her first Commonwealth Games appearance in Birmingham. Her reputation was fu.rther bolstered when she upset World No. 2 Wang Yidi of China at the 2023 ITTF World Team Championships.

Her momentum continued into 2024 with a series of victories. She won the WTT Feeder Corpus Christi singles title in January and followed it up with another title in Beirut two months later. Her crowning achievement came at the WTT Contender in Lagos, where she defeated China’s Ding Yijie in the singles final. Additionally, she partnered with Archana Kamath to secure a doubles title, demonstrating her versatility in both individual and team events.

Sreeja attributes much of her growth to the experience gained from the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league. “UTT has been very helpful for every table tennis player. I think we are getting good exposure and it’s really helping us in international tournaments as well,” she said. Last year, she had an impressive season with Dabang Delhi TTC, which she credits for her development.

Preparing for the Olympics, Sreeja has focused extensively on her fitness and mental conditioning. “For the last two years, I have been working a lot on improving my mental strength and I think that is the first aspect where I have improved, especially in 2024. I am mentally well prepared to play against any opponent, whoever it is,” she said.

Sreeja also talked about her physical preparation, particularly her strength and conditioning, to prevent injuries and improve agility. “I have also been working a lot on my strength and conditioning, especially to prevent injuries, and to improve my agility on the table. I think that has made a lot of difference in my game. I have also worked a lot on my first ball attack against the push. I have tried to be more consistent in attacking that ball and I can see these three aspects have brought a lot of change in my game,” she added.

The Indian women’s table tennis team, featuring Sreeja Akula, Manika Batra, and Archana Kamath, alongside the men’s team comprising Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, and Manav Thakkar, has made a historic qualification for the team event at the Paris Olympics. This achievement sets a promising stage for Indian table tennis on the global platform.

After the Olympics, Indian paddlers will return to the domestic scene for the Ultimate Table Tennis 2024, scheduled to be held in Chennai from August 22 to September 7. This event will see Indian players compete alongside top international stars, providing further exposure and competition for Sreeja and her teammates.