Theirs is a love story that emerged after 13 years of dislike and cold-shouldering. Both are champions in their own right and have known each other for 15 years, but it was only after a common friend, Achanta Sharath Kamal, intervened and asked them to break the ice to lighten the mood at the training camp that Poulomi and Soumyadeep started talking. What happened next is anybody’s guess.
In a candid conversation with Village News, the soon-to-be-married couple spoke in detail about their relationship, table tennis and the Commonwealth Games.
On their courtship
“We have known each other since we were kids, but we never really got along. In fact, we hated each other’s company. We didn’t speak to each other for seven long years. It was only after Sharath asked us to start talking, to make the atmosphere at the training camp better, that we moved on, some two years ago. After that, things improved between us. We became good friends, then best friends, and one day we realised we were in love,” said Poulomi Ghatak, a six-time national champion, who will marry Soumyadeep Roy in February.
Soumyadeep agrees as he looks back on those days. “We never talked. We had different circles of friends. But then they say matches are made in heaven, and the saying suits us perfectly. We got engaged last year. Now we are the motivation behind each other’s success in competitions. The Commonwealth Games are the first Games we are playing together as a couple. Her words are definitely motivating, and I need a lot of that because I am playing a tough match tomorrow. I have beaten the Australian who won silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and am going into tomorrow’s match in quite good form. Hopefully, with her backing, I will do well in that tough match and bring laurels to our country,” said the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
“It’s always good to have Soumyadeep behind me during my matches. His presence makes me feel good and motivates me to play well. I have experienced that at these Games, and I hope we both get through the last hurdle in each other’s company tomorrow,” said Poulomi. She added that since all eyes would be on the paddlers, with India and England in a close fight for second place, they would give their best to win gold.
On waiting to marry
“We will be getting married in February because we have a gruelling schedule ahead: first the Asian Games in Guangzhou and then the Nationals in January. Then there is my sister’s wedding, and probably after that, some time in February, we can be sure of getting a good break of a month and a half. We did not want to do it in a hurry. We have been busy for the last year and a half. Marriage is a time to enjoy yourself, be free of all mental pressure and have fun. That’s why we chose a quiet part of the season to get married,” said Soumyadeep.
On the success of Indian table tennis
“The process started some six years ago, in 2004, but the results started coming in 2006. We worked hard for those two years between 2004 and 2006, and what looked like a miracle to everyone else at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games was actually the reward for our efforts. Yes, it was good, a dream situation for us when we beat Singapore at the Melbourne Games. Achanta almost did the unthinkable. Nobody gave us any chance, but we beat the favourites. It wasn’t only Singapore; we beat Nigeria and many other higher-ranked teams. We won the men’s team event and Sharath won the men’s singles as well,” recalled Soumyadeep.
On the standard of table tennis at the 2010 Games
“The table tennis standards at the Commonwealth Games are really high. Singapore are here, and so are Australia, with four Chinese players in their team, so the competition is tough. The women’s events in particular are tougher this time than at the last Games. We have done a good job to get this far and hopefully we will continue the good work tomorrow, when we have a tough match in the semi-finals. Beating England was like a dream come true. The same team had beaten us earlier, so it was good revenge. Tomorrow we are playing a Singapore team and that will be tough. Most of them are Chinese and they are really good players, but we will give it our best shot,” said Poulomi.
Soumyadeep agreed with his fiancée and added: “I am playing a Singaporean ranked 15th in the world. He is the top seed here. I will be the underdog, but that will probably take the pressure off me, and the support of the home crowd will definitely help.”
On the arrangements at the Games Village
“It’s simply fantastic. We have never stayed in a place like this. The negative stories in the media before the Games look so false when you see the actual infrastructure. I remember that in Melbourne last time we did not have air-conditioning in our rooms and it was extremely hot. There was one toilet for each flat, while here every room has an attached bathroom. The rooms are also more spacious than anything we have seen before. Minor hiccups happen everywhere, but they should not be blown out of proportion,” said Soumyadeep.
Poulomi agreed. “Even the venues are so good. Our ground is like heaven. If things continue to be maintained after the Games, we will definitely see a lot more youngsters being attracted to the game. This is world-class infrastructure.”
Courtesy: Village News
By Rohit Sakunia and Rakesh Jha
Indian Sports News
