Surat: Manush Shah embodies a sense of tranquillity as he patiently observes the team events at the 86th Senior National Championship, held at the Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium in Surat. Although he will not compete until the individual events later in the week, an atmosphere of anticipation surrounds him.

On Tuesday, following the update of world rankings, Shah ascended 19 positions to achieve a new career-best ranking of world No. 78.

“Everything is going well at the moment,” Shah remarked to HT. “This year has started positively for me, particularly with my performance in Muscat. I also found my rhythm towards the end of last year, and I am pleased that this momentum has persisted.”

Just last week, during the WTT Contender event in Oman, Shah, who was ranked 97 at the time, achieved a significant upset by defeating world No. 37 Maharu Yoshimura and No. 31 Sora Matsushima, advancing to the quarter-finals after entering the tournament as a qualifier.

The steady advancement of India's No. 5 in singles is complemented by his rapid progress in doubles, where he and fellow state player Manav Thakkar currently hold the world No. 10 ranking in men's doubles. The pair reached three finals in WTT Feeder events last year, securing victory in one, and also made it to two Contender and one Star Contender semi-finals.

“Manav and I have been playing together for many years,” the left-handed player explains, noting that their left-right pairing provides a strategic advantage. “Manav is a compact and disciplined player who creates excellent opportunities for me to finish points. While he may struggle with finishing, I find it challenging to create, so our partnership complements each other effectively.”

The duo came close to defeating the then world No. 1 men's doubles team of Jang Woojin and Lim Jong Hoon in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games in 2023, ultimately losing a closely contested match 2-3 (8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 9-11).

This marked a significant advancement for the player from Baroda, who once aspired to pursue a different sport.

In his youth, cricket and painting were his two primary passions.

He reflects with a smile, "I frequently created paintings of cricketers. I had completed several works featuring Virender Sehwag, along with pieces of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and a few South African players."

However, everything changed when he was ten years old. While playing in a jungle gym at school, he slipped and fell onto a metal pipe, resulting in severe kidney damage that required a six-month hospitalization.

"I did not fully grasp the seriousness of the injury at the time, but the doctors advised me against participating in any outdoor sports due to the potential risk to my life," he remembers.

"My parents were understandably frightened by the situation. Yet, as a hyperactive child, I found it impossible to remain engaged solely through painting. Consequently, my parents enrolled me in table tennis."

After his recovery, he adapted to the new sport with remarkable speed. He soon became the Under-12 state champion, and by the time he secured the Under-15 national title, he, along with his parents and coach Shailesh Gosain, recognized his potential for a professional career.

"That was a pivotal moment for me. A few years later, I also won the Under-18 and Under-21 titles, which further validated my achievements," he states. "It was a courageous decision for my parents, but they supported me unconditionally, and now I find myself in a position to represent my country on an international stage, so it has all paid off."

Nevertheless, he acknowledges that a long journey still lies ahead.

He emphasizes that rather than merely addressing his weaknesses, he has concentrated on enhancing his strengths.

"My primary focus is on my physical fitness. I excel in the gym and lift heavy weights," he explains. "This drives me to improve continuously and become fitter each day."

Once a cricket enthusiast with a passion for painting, Shah is now wielding a table tennis paddle to carve out his unique path.

Read Also: "Australian Open Drama: Djokovic's Injury Sparks Debate as Alcaraz Responds"

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!