Rising table tennis star Abhinandh PB sets sights on bigger targets

Panaji, Jul 12 (PTI) Beating the likes of Isaac Quek and Lilian Bardet and winning a host of national and international events have only been part of the journey for India's rising table tennis talent Abhinandh PB, whose steady rise has raised expectations around him. Abhinandh defeated Quek to make waves last year in the Ultimate Table Tennis, and this year, playing for the Dempo Goa Challengers, he began with a 3-0 hammering of world No. 42 Bardet from France. For the 18-year-old Abhinand, who has won the gold medal in WTT Youth Star Contender (Doha) and a bronze in the Asian Youth Championships this year, the task is to remain focussed on his ultimate goal of winning the Olympics gold. “... but it does make me hungry for more,” Abhinandh told PTI in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of UTT season 7 when asked about his famous wins in limited appearances. “… because what I keep in my head is that (the 23-year-old Tomokazu) Harimoto has done so many things in this young age and even I am crossing that age barrier. I will have to compete with him; that’s what I have in my mind. “After any win, big or small, my usual thing is that I will be focused on the next match. Sometimes I might take it into my head, which impacts me in other ways. But I am still learning. I want to improve. I am always hungry for more and that is what my coach has taught me,” he added. Abhinandh said having the right mindset in the season opener to get the better of Bardet was pleasing for him. “This year, I am glad I started really well. I had a good mindset and also facing my ex-teammate Lilian Bardet, he is like a big brother to me,” he said. “I have learnt so many things from UTT, for example, which serve I have to put at the starting of the game, middle, and as well as the last of the game and also, which serve I have to expect from the opponent,” he added. Abhinandh said while his ultimate goal is the Olympics goal, the immediate target is to achieve No. 1 ranking in the youth circuit. “My bigger goal is to win an Olympic medal for India. The gold one, I would say. That is my ultimate goal. If you ask for this year, I am currently No. 11, but I want to get into the top six and also eventually No. 1 by the end of next year,” Abhinandh said. “Next year is my last in youth category. I will have to get into the No.1 spot and as well as to transform into a senior player. After completing 19 years (of age) I want to get into top 100 of the senior rankings,” he added. The Chennai boy, who won the men's doubles gold with Preyesh Suresh Raj at last year's Senior National Table Tennis Championships, counts some of the biggest names in world sport among his idols. “Kobe Bryant, because his work ethic was unbelievable. The amount of work he put in the amount of determination that he had towards the sport just inspired me,” he said. “… and MS Dhoni for his calm. I want to follow it because even in mad pressure situations, he'll be so calm. Even in the toughest situations I have to be as calm as him. “In table tennis, my idol is Fan Zhendong who's a grand slam champion in table tennis. He's not playing in the WTT series now. He's playing in the German League, I enjoy watching him play,” Abhinandh said. PTI DDV ATK