Kanak Jha, the 24-year-old Indian American table tennis sensation, is making waves at the Paris Olympics. Previously seen at the Rio and Tokyo Games, Jha has now shattered records, becoming the first male American table tennis player to reach the round of 16 since 1992, a feat last achieved by Jimmy Butler. Remarkably, he is the only US player in this year’s event.
Jha’s journey in Paris has been nothing short of spectacular. His Olympic campaign kicked off with a dramatic victory over Korea’s Cho Daeseong, the 20th-ranked player in the world, defeating him 4-2. This win was especially impressive given Jha’s ranking of 125th globally. On July 31, Jha continued his winning streak by besting Greece’s Panagiotis Gionis with the same 4-2 score, propelling him into the round of 16.
The path to Paris hasn’t been smooth for Jha. A year-long suspension imposed by the US Anti-Doping Agency for multiple whereabouts failures kept him out of the sport until March. To fund his Olympic aspirations, Jha turned to a GoFundMe campaign, which raised over $12,000 of his $100,000 target. In a recent press conference, Jha reflected on the financial and emotional struggles he faced, acknowledging the vital role these funds played in his comeback and his ambition to make his supporters proud by clinching a medal.
Originally from Milpitas, California, Jha moved to Sweden at 15 and then to Germany at 17 to immerse himself in the professional table tennis scene. He trains primarily in Germany, where the sport is highly competitive. Jha aspires to use his success in Paris to raise the profile of table tennis in the US, expressing hope that his performance will inspire young players to take up the sport.
Jha’s rise began in 2016 when he became the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Team at just 16, marking him as the first American Olympian born in the 21st century. Despite setbacks from the pandemic and his suspension, Jha’s resilience has driven him up the world rankings.
Now, as he vies for an Olympic medal, Jha reflects with a mix of pride and determination. “Returning from such a long break was incredibly challenging, but I’m proud of my comeback. Qualifying for Paris was my goal, and achieving it means everything to me,” he shared.
Jha views an Olympic medal as the pinnacle of his aspirations. “I feel stronger than ever. I’m on an upward trajectory, and each day since my return has been an improvement. It’s a tough challenge, but I believe I can turn my dream into reality,” he concluded.
