Olympics-Table Tennis-GoFundMe helps American Jha fulfill Olympic dream

By Krystal Hu

Paris (Reuters) - Kanak Jha is no stranger to the Olympics, having represented the United States in table tennis at both the Rio and Tokyo Games, but the path to Paris has been his most challenging.

The 24-year-old, the only male table tennis player representing the U.S. in Paris, was banned for a year by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and used a GoFundMe campaign to help support his journey to the Paris Games.

Jha did not play until March after USADA banned him last year for accumulating three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period, but with the ban now behind him, he wants to focus on winning a medal and promoting table tennis in the U.S.

"I was out of the sport for 16 months, which was tough in a few ways. I'm a professional table tennis player, so financially being one of them," Jha, who helped the U.S. win team gold at the 2019 Pan Am Games, told a press conference on Tuesday.

His GoFundMe campaign has raised over $12,000, well short of his fundraising goal of $100,000 but still crucial financially in helping him get to Paris.

"Everything given from the GoFundMe was used to prepare as best as I can for the Paris Games," he added.

"And now hopefully I can represent all those who helped me out to the best of my ability here in Paris, and make history for us and win a medal."

Jha mostly trains in Germany, where professional table tennis leagues are more established than back home. He hopes to raise awareness of the sport in the U.S. with his performances in Paris.

"The sport isn't that mainstream in the States," he said.

"So I hope in the Olympic Games, and also other events, I can continue to influence some kids. Hopefully some kids watch the games here are inspired by it to pick up a racket."

(Reporting by Krystal Hu in Paris, editing by Ed Osmond)