Sanil Shetty is an Indian table tennis player, and he is well-known for winning medals in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Australia. In August 2022, he came to the limelight after winning another gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Wiki/Biography
Sanil Shetty was born on Wednesday, 16 August 1989 (age 33 years; as of 2022) in Mumbai. His zodiac sign is Leo.
Physical Appearance
Height: 5′ 5″
Weight (approx.): 65 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father, Shankar Shetty, is a former banker and a table tennis player.
Sanil Shetty with his father Shankar Shetty
His mother’s name is Bharathi Shetty.
Sanil Shetty with his mother Bharathi Shetty
His elder brother, Sachin Shetty, is a table tennis coach.
Sanil Shetty with Sachin Shetty
He has two sisters named Priya Shetty and Sneha Shetty.
Sanil Shetty with his sister Priya Shetty
Sneha Shetty, sister of Sanil Shetty
Wife
His wife, Reeth Rishya, is a table tennis player. The couple tied the knot on 23 December 2018.
Sanil Shetty during his marriage ceremony
Relationships/Affairs
Sanil Shetty dated Reeth Rishya for a brief period before getting married.
A photograph of Sanil Shetty and Reeth Rishya together
Career
According to Sanil, his affiliation with table tennis began when he was nine years old. During the initial phase of his career, Sanil was trained by his elder brother. After training for several years with his brother, Sanil Shetty got enrolled at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Mumbai, where he was trained for twelve years by an Indian table tennis player named Deepak Mani. After training under Deepak Mani, Sanil Shetty moved to Frankfurt, Germany. There, he trained under the guidance of a veteran German table tennis player, Peter Engel. In 2012, Sanil Shetty represented India at the Fajr Cup in Iran, where he won a bronze medal. In the same year, Sanil Shetty participated in the qualifying matches for the 2012 London Summer. He could not make it into the Indian squad as he was defeated in the quarter-finals of the qualifying matches. In an interview, Sanil Shetty said,
It was in 2012 when I had a chance to qualify for the Olympics but unfortunately, I lost in the quarter-finals. I couldn’t make it to the finals. I was shattered then. Had I been qualified, I could make it for the Olympics. It did take me time to regain confidence and convince myself that I had to buck up and that what went wrong couldn’t be undone.”
Sanil Shetty participated in the 2014 Senior National & Inter-State Table Tennis Championship, where he managed to secure a victory in the tournament. After winning the competition, Sanil became the second paddler from Mumbai to have won the title since 1995. Later in the same year, Sanil Shetty won a silver medal at the 2014 Fajr Cup, which took place in Iran. In 2015, Sanil Shetty clinched a gold medal in Asian Table Tennis Championship. The competition took place in Thailand. In 2016, Sanil Shetty represented Bharat Petroleum at the Inter Oil Table Tennis Championship and managed to secure a victory in the tournament.
A collage of Sanil Shetty playing at the Inter Oil Table Tennis Championship
In 2018, Sanil Shetty participated in the Commonwealth Games that took place in Australia. There, he secured a gold medal in the men’s team championship and a bronze medal in the men’s double event.
Sanil Shetty playing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
In 2019, Sanil represented India at the ITTF 13th South Asian Championship, where he won a silver and three bronze medals. The tournament was held in Nepal. In 2021, Sanil participated in the Asian Championships, where he secured a bronze medal in the team championship event. The championship was held in Doha, Qatar. Later in the same year, Sanil took part in the National Ranking Table Tennis Championship, where he secured first place. The event was organised by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) at Dehradun, Uttarakhand. In 2022, Sanil Shetty was selected to represent the country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which was held in Birmingham, the United Kingdom. There, he clinched a gold medal in the men’s team event.
Sanil Shetty with his team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
On 5 August 2022, Sanil and Reeth Tennison were defeated in the table tennis mixed doubles event by their Malaysian opponents.
Medals
Gold
- In 2010, Sanil Shetty won a gold medal at the US Open U-21 Table Tennis Championships.
- In 2015, Sanil Shetty won a gold medal in the men’s team championship event at the Asian Table Tennis Championship, held in Thailand.
Sanil Shetty after winning a gold medal at the 2015 Asian Table Tennis Championship
- In 2018, Sanil Shetty won a gold medal in the men’s team championship event at the Commonwealth Games, held in Gold Coast, Australia.
Sanil Shetty holding his gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
- In 2019, Sanil Shetty won a gold medal in the men’s singles event at the All India Inter-Institutional Table Tennis Championship.
Sanil Shetty after winning the 2019 All India Inter-Institutional TT Championship
- In 2022, Sanil Shetty won a gold medal in the men’s team championship event at the Commonwealth Games, held in Birmingham, the United Kingdom.
Sanil Shetty with his team after clinching a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Silver
- In 2019, Sanil Shetty won a silver medal at the ITTF South Asian Championship, held in Nepal.
Sanil Shetty with his silver medal at the 2019 South Asian Games
- In the same year, Sanil Shetty won a silver medal in the mixed doubles event at the All India Inter-Institutional Table Tennis Championship.
- In 2018, Sanil Shetty won a silver medal at the ITTF Thailand Open.
Sanil Shetty with his teammate after clinching a silver medal at the 2018 Thailand Open
- In the same year, Sanil Shetty won a silver medal in the mixed doubles event at the All India Inter-Institutional Table Tennis Championships.
Sanil Shetty with his wife after winning a silver medal at the 48th All India Inter-Institutional Table Tennis Championships
- In 2014, Sanil Shetty won a silver medal at the Fajr Cup which was held in Iran.
Sanil Shetty, along with his team, showing their silver medals at the 2014 Fajr Cup
- In 2013, Sanil Shetty won a silver medal in the men’s team championship at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, held in India.
Bronze
- In 2021, Sanil Shetty won a bronze medal in the men’s team championship at the Asian Championship, held in Doha, Qatar.
Sanil Shetty after winning a bronze medal at the 2021 Asian Championship
- In 2019, Sanil Shetty clinched a bronze medal in the mixed doubles event at the ITTF South Asian Championship which was held in Nepal.
- In 2019, Sanil Shetty clinched a bronze medal in the men’s singles event at the ITTF South Asian Championship which was held in Nepal.
- In 2019, Sanil Shetty clinched a bronze medal in the men’s doubles event at the ITTF South Asian Championship which was held in Nepal.
- In 2018, Sanil Shetty won a bronze medal in the men’s doubles event at the Commonwealth Games, held in Gold Coast, Australia.
Sanil Shetty with a bronze medal at the 2018 CWG
- In 2012, Sanil Shetty won a bronze medal at the Fajr Cup which was held in Iran.
Sanil Shetty with a bronze medal and a trophy during the Fajr Cup
Awards, Honours, Trophies
- In 2013, Sanil Shetty was awarded the BPCL Award for his performance in table tennis by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).
Sanil Shetty receiving a cheque after winning the BPCL Award
- Sanil Shetty was awarded a trophy for winning the 2014 Senior National and Inter-State Table Tennis Championship. The event took place in Patna, Bihar.
Sanil Shetty with his trophy at the 2014 Senior National & Inter-State TT Championship
- The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) felicitated Sanil Shetty for winning medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Sanil Shetty at his felicitation program, organized by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI)
- In 2021, Sanil Shetty won the National Ranking Table Tennis Championship. The championship took place in Dehradun.
Sanil Shetty with his trophy after standing first at the 2021 National Ranking Tournament
Favourites
- Cuisine: Punjabi and Italian
- Sportsperson(s): M.S. Dhoni, Timo Boll, Jun Mizutani
- Travel Destination: Greece
- Film(s): I Am Legend (Hollywood), Baahubali (Kannada film)
- Quote: “Work hard for all that you want and never give up in life.”
Facts/Trivia
- In an interview, Sanil Shetty claimed that his table tennis journey began when his elder brother gifted him a table tennis racquet on his 9th birthday. He further said,
I still remember, it was my 9th birthday, and my brother had come home after playing a tournament in Mumbai. He gave me a tt racquet, which sort of marked the beginning of my journey.
- According to Sanil Shetty, he was born prematurely and also had a hole in his heart. The doctors had advised his parents not to allow him to partake in any sort of physical activity as it would put an immense amount of pressure upon his heart, which could have threatened his life. He also said that he had to undergo various types of medical treatments for five years. While giving an interview, Sanil said,
When I was born, I had a hole in my heart. Naturally my parents were scared as doctors said. I was too sensitive to play any rigorous sports. So, as a child my parents put me in various arts classes. I would learn painting, drawing and all sorts of things. I was taking homeopathy treatment till I was nine or 10. Doctors said that nothing could be done. Our domestic help used to take me to school and bring me back home. I had breathing problems as well.”
Sanil Shetty’s photo when he was a toddler
- While giving an interview, Sanil Shetty claimed that his elder brother had inspired him to pursue a career in table tennis. He said,
I am largely inspired by my elder brother. In 1998, Sachin brought home a very huge trophy he won in a Mumbai University tournament. I was inspired and told him that even I want this trophy.”
- According to Sanil Shetty, due to his medical history, his parents were initially against his decision to make a career in any professional sport. Sanil also said that his elder brother helped and supported him in convincing their parents to allow him to pursue a career in table tennis. Sanil said,
My dad played for the bank that he worked for and my older brother, Sachin,also played at the national level. was only when I was nine years old, did I started requesting my parents to let me pursue table tennis, but my request was denied constantly by them. After this, my elder brother Sachin too helped me by talking to our parents and convincing them to let me at least try. He really supported me a lot.”