Desai Eyes LA 2028 Olympics Medal Through New Mixed Team Format

Harmeet Desai, one of India's leading table tennis players, believes the mixed team competition debuting at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics presents a genuine medal opportunity for the country. The new format, which combines men and women players in team configurations, represents a departure from traditional Olympic table tennis structures and could play to India's strengths.

The mixed team event is expected to feature different composition rules compared to conventional men's and women's team events. Desai's assessment suggests that India's current roster of table tennis talent could benefit from the flexibility and collaborative dynamics inherent in mixed-gender team competition.

India has made steady progress in Olympic table tennis in recent years, with players competing across multiple disciplines. The inclusion of mixed team events at major international competitions reflects broader efforts by the International Table Tennis Federation to increase gender parity and create diverse competitive pathways.

Desai's focus on the LA 2028 Olympics underscores India's broader ambitions to expand its medal tally in racquet sports. As preparations for the Games commence, Indian table tennis officials are likely to evaluate squad composition and training strategies to maximize performance in both traditional and newly introduced events.