Historic Result: Kanak moves to Round of 16 at Paris Olympic Games
by USA Table Tennis
PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 31: Kanak Jha of Team United States reacts during the Men’s Singles Round of 32 between Kanak Jha of Team United States and Panagiotis Gionis of Team Greece on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at South Paris Arena on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Paris, France – July 31, 2024 – Kanak Jha makes history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by reaching the round of 16 in the Men’s Singles event. His achievement marks the furthest a U.S. men’s player has ever advanced in the table tennis event, topping Jimmy Butler’s round of 32 achievement at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
“We’re just taking one match at a time, and not thinking about the first ever or whatever. Just matches right now”- Mark Hazinski – USA Men’s Team Coach
Panagiotis Gionis (GRE), a defensive player who is 44 years old, had a very intense sidespin forehand attack that put pressure on Kanak. But it was Kanak who kept his composure as Gionis mounted a comeback, winning 2 games in a row, after Kanak led 3 games to 0.
“The match was very tough…he came back 3-2, if it had gone to 7 sets, it would be in [Gionis’s] advantage. He’s a very experienced player, he understands the rhythm and momentum shifts. I am feeling relieved.” – Kanak Jha
Kanak Jha will now face #2 seed, Chinese super star Fan Zhendong this evening at 10 PM, for a place in the final 8.