Paris 2024: Hyderabadi table tennis champ Sreeja Akula all set for Olympics

(July 8, 2024) With the Olympics just around the corner, India’s rising star in table tennis, Sreeja Akula does not feel the pressure. “This is my first Olympics, and I am as prepared as I can be. I will give it my best shot and not worry about the rest,” the upcoming Olympian tells Global Indian.

The Arjuna Award winner is currently ranked 25th in the world and comes off a great year that saw her go from strength to strength. 2024 was a watershed year for the young player as she became the first Indian women table tennis player to win international tournaments courtesy of her victories at the WTT Feeder, Corpus Christi, Texas, and the WTT Feeder, Beirut II.

The right-handed player who plays both singles and doubles has performed at the highest levels over the past years by consistently beating formidable players from Korea and China. The paddler’s story is one of perseverance and triumph, making her one of the most promising athletes on the Indian sports scene.

Sreeja Akula

Family matters

Sreeja’s initiation into table tennis began at the age of nine, when her parents enrolled her in a local coaching center. Recognizing her potential, her coach encouraged her to participate in various state-level tournaments.

“My father used to play table tennis, as did my sister Ravali, so I sort of grew up watching them play and was obsessed with becoming a good player. Also, I was very weak as a child, so my parents encouraged me to play as it helped to build my stamina,” she states.

Having trained at St. Paul’s Academy, the YMCA, and then at the academy started by her coach, Somnath Ghosh, Sreeja’s childhood was spent mostly on courts in Hyderabad.

Sporting stars are not born in isolation. The young sporting star saw immense sacrifices made by her family. With both parents (mother Sai Sudha and father Praveen Kumar) in insurance, one of them constantly accompanied her as she played in tournaments across the country, traveling by trains and buses, always supporting her along the way.

She recalls, “My father had to shift from a government job to the private sector just so that he could afford the expenses of travel and tournaments. My mother learned to ride a two-wheeler so that she could pick us up and drop us off at the academy. My grandparents took over running the household, as either of my parents used to constantly be on the move along with me. I am here because of my entire family.”

 

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Rising through the ranks

It was all this grit and hard work that helped Sreeja Akula make her mark very early on in her career. Just two years after she started playing (in 2009), she won her first medal (bronze) at the national championships and never really looked back.

Sreeja Akula’s rise through the ranks of Indian table tennis has been nothing short of meteoric. She made her mark on the national scene with her performances in the National Table Tennis Championships. In 2017, she won the Junior National Championship, showcasing her talent and signaling her arrival on the big stage.

Her transition from the junior to the senior level was seamless. Sreeja’s consistent performances earned her a place on the Indian national team.

2022 was a breakout year, where she clinched the gold (mixed doubles) at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Sreeja also claimed the Senior National Championship in 2022 in women’s singles, successfully defending the title she first won in 2021.

Incidentally, the sportswoman is good at her studies too and spent time traveling hooked on her studies. She laughs, “Academics and sports are my twin loves. I used to travel to tournaments with my text books. I scored a 9.5 GPA in my tenth grade, thanks to my teachers at Rosary Convent, and 96% in my 12th grade.”

Balancing act

Since her childhood, Sreeja spent her time on the court. Did she ever miss out on the regular growing-up activities of going to the movies and hanging out at a mall with friends? “I really don’t believe in having regrets. I always enjoyed playing table tennis, and there was no pressure on me from anyone. Of course, sport requires some sacrifices, but then so does anything if you want to excel,” she explains.

Women players from Hyderabad have really made it big in recent years, from Sania Mirza and Saina Nehwal to PV Sindhu and Nikhat Zareen, as Sreeja joins the big league. Is the sporting environment more conducive for women now? “I’ve been really lucky to have the unstinted support of my family at every stage. Also, I’m an employee of RBI and have support from the Deccan Sports Foundation. Things are definitely looking up for women as we see more and more women athletes make their mark. Also I’ve never really been discriminated against due to my gender.”

Along with her physical fitness, the table tennis star has been working on her mental fitness too, practicing yoga and meditation for ten years. Focusing on the troika of technical skills, physical fitness, and mental toughness, she is today a formidable player on the court.

The Olympic journey

As Sreeja Akula sets her sights on the Paris Olympics in 2024, her journey so far provides a strong foundation for her aspirations. Part of the historic India women’s team to have qualified for the first time for the Olympics, Sreeja is well on her way to achieving her dream of winning a medal on the biggest sports stage.

One of the critical factors in Sreeja’s favor is her experience and exposure to international competitions. Competing against the best players in the world has honed her skills and given her the confidence to face tough challenges. Her ability to adapt to different playing styles and conditions is a significant advantage as she prepares for the Olympics.

“Everyone keeps asking me about the Olympic medal, but I approach every game as if it were an Olympic match. Each victory matters. I take this competition seriously, but it’s no different from any other game I play. The Olympics are wonderful, but winning or losing isn’t everything. I aim to remain consistent in my outlook, regardless of the outcomes,” she explains.

Sreeja Akula’s journey is an inspiring story of passion, perseverance, and hard work. With her skills, experience, and determination, she surely has the potential to bring home an Olympic medal and make India proud. The road to Paris in 2024 is challenging, but a billion Indians are in her corner.

Quick takes

• Favorite athletes: Saina Nehwal and Sachin Tendulkar.
• When not training: Love reading.
• Next target: To be ranked in the top 20 in the world.
• Advice to young players: Keep improving and don’t succumb to pressure and expectations. Also, remember that there are no short cuts to success, only hard work and dedication.

Follow Sreeja Akula on Instagram.