Harmeet Desai

Born on 19th July, 1993 in Surat, Harmeet Desai is an Indian table tennis star and the only player from Gujarat who has won medals in the recently held Commonwealth Games 2018 in men's doubles and team events. With his right-handed offensive playing style, he has been able to add many feathers in his cap, winning medals at the national as well as international stages. Harmeet started playing table tennis at the age of 6, being coached by his father. Later on, he got a chance to learn the skills under the tutelage of renowned coach Peter Karlsson, under the Olympic Solidarity Programme. At present, Harmeet is counted amongst the top-ranked TT players of India and practising hard for his dream to clinch an Olympic gold for the nation.

Major Achievements-

• He won the men's singles title at the 2019 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship, held at Cuttack, by defeating Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in a tough final round.
• Harmeet has been bestowed with the Arjuna Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2019.
• Along with Sharath Kamal, Anthony Amalraj, Sanil Shetty and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Harmeet gave his best to win the men's team event and a bronze medal in men's doubles with Sanil Shetty at the Commonwealth Games 2018.
• Bagged an individual gold medal at the Lusofonia Games of 2014, held in Goa. The same year, he became the first Indian to reach the Qatar Open World Tour platinum series final, held in Doha.
• Clinched the U-21 title of Brazil Open 2012, becoming the second Indian table tennis player to earn the feat next to Sharath Kamal.
• Earned a bronze medal with his team at the Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship 2011, held in Bangkok.