Kanak Jha’s Opens Olympics with 4-0 Prelim Win over Vladislav Ursu
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by USA Table Tennis
PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 27: Kanak Jha of Team United States celebrates during a Men's Singles Preliminary Round match against Vladislav Ursu of Team Moldova on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at South Paris Arena on July 27, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Paris, France – July 27, 2024 – Kanak Jha, USA’s only entry into the Men’s Singles event, had the honor of opening play at the South Paris Arena 4 for the first day of table tennis competition at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. At 3 PM, Kanak Jha and Vladislav Urdu marched to the table in perfect focus – ready to battle for a spot in the top 64.
JHA was focused and determined from the start, showing his professionalism and experience. He led 10-3 in the first game, where he actually missed two serves, before finishing it 11-5. He kept the focus, and finished the next three games like a true veteran 11-5, 11-6, 11-3. With a wave to the cheering crowd, where one could unmistakably hear his mother Karuna Jain and sister Prachi Jha, Kanak heads back to the village to prepare for tomorrow morning’s 10 AM match against CHO Dae Seong (KOR).
“I feel really relieved right now. A lot of pressure going into this match. My opponent, he’s not so well known internationally, but he’s very strong. He doesn’t play often but when he does, he’s always had good results…The difference today was experience. It’s my third Olympic Games and it’s his first. The experience played a factor.” - Kanak Jha
Kanak’s focus was truly to be admired. Team mate Lily Zhang has said that competing in the Olympic Games is very different mentally than any other competition. But, having supporters in the stands gives the Games a very different feel than Tokyo 2020.
On maintaining his composure, Kanak said that “the pressure is higher, so I just tried to stay calm, stay positive, I knew the match could be topsy turvy and came in expecting a difficult match…last time I played in front of my entire family was 2017 – it’s pretty awesome to have them here. My sister my brother my mom my father and uncle and friends – it’s all amazing and all that positive energy has really helped me.”
Kanak plays in the main draw tomorrow morning (July 28th) at 10 AM. He hasn’t played Cho Dae Seong from South Korea in many years, but recognizes his opponent has had a great year and that he will continue to stay positive and prepare before the next match.
