On January 10 in Cuttack, India, Sharath Kamal Achanta won a record ninth national men's singles title. Last year he equaled Kamlesh Mehta’s previous record of eight titles. Achanta pointed out that, in some ways, Mehta's record is more impressive. "Since I was a way ahead than the competition during my peak, I won many Nationals where I just had to go through the motions," said Achanta, currently ranked 30th in the world. "[Mehta] had to overcome tough competition from multiple players who were at the same level.” While Achanta did enjoy a stunning run of five straight national titles from 2006-2010, he then endured a drought of equal duration. He said that breaking out of that slump in 2016 was the greatest personal victory of his career, whereas winning his record ninth meant more to those around him. "I had to win it for others than for myself," he confided. This year's final was as dramatic as they come. There Achanta faced his teammate Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, nipping at his heels in the world rankings at #31. A decade younger than Achanta, Gnanasekaran had a breakout year, leading India to its first ever medal at the Asia Games. Still, he was hungry for his first national singles title. Achanta dropped the first game and trailed two games to three. In the end, his greater experience under pressure proved the difference as he eked it out (11-13, 11-5, 11-6, 5-11, 10-12, 11-6, 14-12), collapsing to the floor after the final point. While Achanta has etched his name in India's table tennis pantheon, up-and-coming challengers like Gnanasekaran help keep him sharp. Bookmakers have likely already picked them as next year's finalists. Meanwhile, these rivals will team up to represent their ascendant nation at quaint little get-togethers like the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.

More at DNA India