'Got a government job in CAG through sports quota in table tennis': Shivam Solanki

There is a saying that goes: 'A comeback is always stronger than the setback' and in the case of Shivam Solanki, it couldn't have been more true.

For Shivam, a sport he took up for fun at a young age has become the path to a government job, a story no one saw coming.

“I started playing table tennis for fun when I was in class 6. After a few years, I started playing it professionally. I got a job in the government services, the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India), through a sports club. quota for table tennis,” he said in an exclusive interview with The bridge on the sidelines of Prime Table Tennis Madhya Pradesh.

Thanks to his parents' support, Shivam was able to take up sports seriously despite not being good at academics. “I wasn't very good at academics, but my family never pressured me. So that opened a door for me and I started taking up table tennis diligently after playing it for fun for years,” he said.

COVID-19 and curtains for TT

Representing Team SensaTTions in the recently concluded PTT MP edition, Shivam shared how he quit the sport due to the lack of opportunities during the COVID-19 lockdown and pursuing an MBA degree.

But fortunately for him, fate had other ideas.

“There were very few opportunities in this sport, especially post COVID, so I thought of preparing for an MBA and quit table tennis. One fine day I had to go for a trial in Kerala and the same day I had an MBA exam So I tried to take the MBA exam in the evening and left for Kerala later in the evening,” he recalls, and he has never looked back since.

“I applied for the job on the suggestion of my friend. But I never knew that destiny had such good things in store for me and then everything fell into place,” he added.

His comeback to sports allowed him to compete in the right tournaments that helped him meet the criteria for a government job under sports quota, and to no one's surprise, his parents were delighted with their son's success.

“When my parents heard about my government job, they were overjoyed. They spent a lot on me and my table tennis career and supported me throughout my journey, so it was a very satisfying feeling for them,” he beamed. smile across his face.

“Here is a rule in jobs through sports quota where we only have to go to the office from morning to afternoon. After lunch we go to our sports training to ensure our fitness to play in tournaments,” he added speaking about his livelihood in his table tennis career.

Increased opportunities in table tennis and the role of the PTT

For Shivam, who found few opportunities in his early years, the rise of the sport internationally and domestically has seen its development across the spectrum, including the grassroots.

The best example of this is the arrival of the PTT, a domestic franchise competition that focuses on basic development.

“Prime Table Tennis is a great initiative and its grassroots nature will no longer make people think that sport has no career. PTT has created a very positive environment for the young players and helped unleash their full potential,” said Shivam, when asked about the league's role in helping Madhya Pradesh table tennis.

This is the first time that the tournament is being held in MP, and at the iconic Abhay Prashal in Indore, it served as a great platform for rowers across the state to showcase their talent and interact with coaches and players of high level.

Speaking about this, Shivam said, “It helps a lot in promoting table tennis in Madhya Pradesh and now more people will choose to play this sport professionally,” adding that the unique format has made it even more interesting.

“PTT's playing format is very unique and impactful. It ensures that no game ends with a one-sided outcome. A top player playing in a team does not guarantee victory for the team, which adds an extra layer of excitement to the game. ”

As the sport goes from strength to strength, initiatives such as PTT, aimed at strengthening the grassroots, will only drive further growth and encourage parents and children to take up sport as a viable career option.