India, May 10 -- Massimo Costantini had one-on-one chats with every member of the Indian contingent at the World Team Table Tennis Championships where both teams were eliminated in the Round of 32.

"I sensed that the players also felt, OK, this is not the way to go at the Asian Games. We have to do something different," said Costantini. "We have four months, I hope it will be enough time."

The contract of the Italian, appointed Indian TT's foreign coach ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, has run its course and is up for renewal. Currently in Italy, the 68-year-old hopes the process is done quickly, "so that I can get back to the job".

"I take full responsibility for these negative results," he told HT. "The team needs to grow - as a tea...