Archana Kamath, a part of India’s history-making table tennis team at Paris 2024, has decided to quit to return to her academic career.

Kamath was instrumental in India’s run-up to the Quarter-Finals where they lost 1-3 as she won the only match. Despite the historic achievement, she decided to step down as India’s paddler at the young age of 24.

The Bengaluru-native consulted her coach Anshul Garg about her prospect of winning a medal at Los Angeles 2028 before taking the decision, as per a report in the Indian Express.

To which, he replied: “I told her that it’s difficult. It’s going to take a lot of hard work. She’s ranked outside the top 100 in the world but she improved so much in the past couple of months. But I think she had already made up her mind to go. And once she makes up her mind, it’s difficult to change it”.

Ahead of the Paris 2024, Kamath’s selection was a matter of debate after she got a nod ahead of Ayhika Mukherjee who defeated World No.1 Sun Yingsha earlier. But she stood up to the expectations and proved her worth.

One of the main reasons for her turning to academics is also her brother, who she idolizes.

“My brother works at NASA. He’s my idol and he too encourages me to study. So I make the time to complete all my studies and I enjoy it. I’m good at it too,” she had told the paper earlier.

Kamath had earlier completed her graduation in Economics and also completed the requirements for a Master’s degree in International Relations, Strategies, and Securities, her father had said.