Table tennis star G Sathiyan sets a realistic goal in Japan

Winning four players in the Japanese world two years ago, a historic medal-winning performance against Japan in the Asian Games and experience playing a local league in the Olympics will satisfy paddler G Sathiyan with confidence before her virgin Summer Games. (More sports news)

Sathiyan feels he is a much better player than he was at the 2018 Asian Games held at the fraternity mini-Olympics, where he won two of his matches against Japan in the quarterfinals to stop waiting for India’s 60-year medal at the Continental Games. .

His good run against the Japanese continued the following year when he amazed the world fourth in Harimoto Tomokazu’s Asian Championships, even though the team lost the rubber.

Both Sathiyan and Sharath Kamal are in the seed 17-32 and get the first round hey.

“The semi-final would be amazing. It would be difficult, but winning players like Harimoto gives a lot of confidence. And if you manage to reach the last eight, you can take anyone on a certain day,” Sathiyan, who had his first practice in Tokyo on Monday, told PTI.

Unlike in the Asian Games, he wouldn’t have a personal trainer and Olympian S Raman next to him in Tokyo when Manika Batra’s personal coach got a nod to him. Sathiyan is disappointed with it, but takes it forward.

“Of course it’s disappointing he’s not there. He was there at the Asian Games and I really played well. His presence mattered itself, but these are COVID times and limitations,” said world number 38.

Sathiyan feels that players from top TT countries like China, Korea and Japan are under more pressure in multi-sport events than in the Pro Tour, making them a little more vulnerable.

“The top Asian players are under a lot of pressure because they are favorites to win. We saw the pressure when we played against them (Japan in 2018). We took advantage of that. If you play aggressively from the start then you can penetrate and put pressure on them.

“They are well prepared and will not take us lightly anymore,” said Sathiyan, even though Japan had not set a full force for the Asian Games.

Sathiyan decided to train at the Raman Academy in Chennai and did not travel to Sonepat National Park before the games. He feels like he made the right call by staying put in COVID times.

“I would have liked to bring in some sparring partners from outside India, but nonetheless I had good sessions with Anirban Ghosh. We worked on match simulations, variations while serving, beats and of course speed.

“I’ve worked hard to beat a force that hasn’t been my strength. I think I’ve recently made changes to my game, I can have a surprise package for my opponents because I haven’t played many international tournaments late,” he said.

The four-member team will receive four five-day important rehearsals before the start of the competition on July 24th.

Sathiyan had ordered the use of the table at the Olympics for training, but it could not arrive on time for logistical reasons, robbing him of valuable practice.

After playing at similar San-EI tables during the Japanese League last year, Sathiyan feels he has enough time to adjust.

“Both Sharath and I are playing from the second round. There will be nerves, but how to play big matches now. The pressure seems to bring out the best in me,” Sathiyan announced.