Table Tennis

In sports, it’s not uncommon for athletes with roots from one country becoming naturalised citizens of another nation and represent their flag at major sporting events.
Very common in football and cricket, there are several other high-profile instances like California-born tennis player Naomi Osaka representing Japan and Michael Chang, with

Rajeev Ram won a silver medal in the mixed doubles at Rio 2016.

Indian-origin athletes at Tokyo Olympics: Stanford graduate and a national champion’s son

Kanak Jha has taken on a tough mission.
The 18-year-old is trying his hardest to raise the profile of table tennis in the United States.
And it looks like his efforts are bearing fruit.
USA took a six-strong squad, four men and two women, to the ITTF World Championships in

Kanak Jha playing at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games

Meet Kanak Jha - America's big table tennis hope

Kanak Jha, the youngest member of Team USA at Rio 2016, has his sights set on gold at Buenos Aires 2018.

Kanak JHA

Rio 2016 | Olympic Games

kanak-crop_1532705104634.jpg

Table tennis prodigy Kanak Jha: YOG gold would be "a dream come true"

GCDG-RIOSTS04E004-_E16080101.jpeg

Top Gen Z

United States of America

Simone

Simone Biles - Olympics.com

Sweden

Armand

Armand Duplantis - Olympics.com

Mikaela

Mikaela SHIFFRIN

Ilia

Ilia Malinin - Olympics.com

Kanak

At 16 years old, Jha was the youngest American athlete to take part in the Rio 2016 Olympics. Four years later, and after moving to Germany, he's in the world's top-30 and has set his sights on representing Team USA again at the Games in Tokyo: "I have some more expectations than last time, but also a much higher level mentally and physically," the 20-year-old told the Olympic Channel. Find out how he's made the step up, in this exclusive interview.

Kanak_Jha_thumbnail_1595080530203.jpg

Kanak Jha: How I've developed into a 'top player' in table tennis

Two rising stars played out a seven-game thriller for bronze at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Kanak Jha took a first Olympic table tennis medal for the United States by beating Lin Yun-ju of Chinese Taipei. Jha also showed exemplary sportsmanship as he gave his opponent a point in the fifth game, with Lin charging back from a seemingly hopeless position to force a decider.

Kanak_Win_THUMB_1555952087134.JPG

Kanak Jha edges out Lin Yun-ju for YOG 2018 bronze

The 18-year-old has set his sights on Tokyo 2020, but first he wants to leave his mark in the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics.

Kanak JHA

Featured

Indian-origin athletes at Tokyo Olympics: Stanford graduate and a national champion’s son

Meet Kanak Jha - America's big table tennis hope

Table tennis prodigy Kanak Jha: YOG gold would be "a dream come true"

Olympic Results