GANDHIDHAM, Dec. 7: The season of marriage is all set to see one of the biggest sporting matches in the country as one of India’s top-ranked table tennis star Harmeet Desai is set to tie the knot with his long-time sweetheart Krittwika Sinha Roy, one of India’s top women’s table tennis players, in Kolkata on December 11.
The duo, who have been in a relationship since 2012, are all set to tie the knot in a traditional Rajput style and they admitted that despite their long courtship they are both excited and nervous ahead of their big day.
“I am very excited and at the same time, I am very nervous. It’s totally a new and different feeling for me, which I am finding difficult to express. But I am really looking forward to it,” Harmeet told GSTTA.in from the US where he was training as well as participating in various tournaments.
Krittwika, who was busy with the national camp, acknowledged that feeling is yet to set in as it was her family who are taking care of everything. “I was busy with my training and I am thankful to my brother and sister-in-law for taking care of everything,” Krittwika said from Kolkata.
While Krittwika was busy with her preparations, Harmeet gave us a glimpse of the preparations.
“As Krittwika is a Rajput, we will have a Rajput style wedding in Kolkata, the preparation for which is going on full-fledged. We will have a reception in Surat. As I was in the US and Krittwika was busy with her training, it is our families who are leaving no stone unturned for the wedding preparations,” Harmeet said.
“At Kolkata, we will have a mix of traditional Rajput and Bengali weddings. We had decided to host the reception in Surat on December 17 as keeping COVID-19 guidelines in mind, some of our friends and family might not be able to attend the marriage,” Krittwika added.
“Gautami Dange is designing our attire for the occasion. For the wedding, I will be wearing a sherwani while Krittwika will be wearing a lehenga. For the reception, I will be wearing an Indo-Western suit while it will be a gown for Krittwika,” Harmeet said.
Despite the excitement, there is some disappointment as some of the top table tennis players might have to give the wedding a miss due to the National Ranking Table Tennis Championships-2021 in Dehradun that started on December 7.
“Since both of us are table tennis players, most of our friends and guests are from the fraternity itself. Now some of our close friends and well-wishers won’t be able to attend the marriage but I understand,” Harmeet opined.
While the marriage means the duo will have to miss the Dehradun tournament, despite Harmeet’s parents wishing Krittwika to take part in the tournament, the duo said that marriage should be a catalyst to their respective careers.
“You know, Harmeet’s parents wanted me to take part in the tournament. They are very supportive of my career,” Krittwika said, adding, “Yes, there is a cultural difference but I don’t think that is an issue at all. Harmeet’s parents are co-operating and I also have no problem adjusting.”
“As we are both active TT players, I feel it won’t be difficult to balance life. She understands me well and I understand her well. Our families knew each other well and I think it is going to be an understanding and exciting relationship. We hope to achieve more things in life after marriage with the support of each other.
“We are also exploring the idea of training together abroad. It will be much easier if we can manage to train and play together in Europe,” Harmeet said.
Turning the clock back, Krittwika said, “We met in 2008-09 as we were with the same employer. We grew on each other as we kept meeting at various camps, tournaments and played many championships together. We were in the India junior team.”
“We started dating in 2012. And we were sure from the first day itself that we would like to spend our life together and one day get married to each other,” Harmeet said. “I am happy that the decision we took back then is still going strong and so is our love and respect for each other,” he added.
On a personal front, Krittwika said, “I admire his dedication and loyalty towards our relationship. Although we are of the same age, he is much more mature than me. He is very calm and positive in every situation.”
Harmeet, on the other hand, admired Krittwika for being very similar to him. “She is very simple, caring, honest, very disciplined towards whatever she does in life. She is also very dedicated. I think in a way, we are very similar,” he smiled.
But there are things that the duo wants to change in each other. “I want him to be much more hygienic and organised,” Krittwika said with a hearty laugh.
“She thinks a lot, she is an overthinker… that’s what I feel,” Harmeet said, ironically, after a long pause. “I don’t want her to overthink sometimes. I want her to be more carefree and happier,” he added.
Written by : Pranjal Protim Boruah