Manika Batra Makes History: First Indian Table Tennis Player to Reach Olympic Pre-Quarterfinals

A Historic Win for Indian Sports

In a landmark achievement for Indian sports, Manika Batra has become the first Indian table tennis player to reach the singles pre-quarterfinals at the Olympic Games. Manika secured this historic win with a stunning 4-0 victory over world number 18, Prithika Pavade from France, with scores of 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, and 11-7.

Her strategic play, particularly targeting Prithika's backhand, proved highly effective, showcasing her skill and keen tactical acumen on the world stage. Despite Prithika's higher ranking and local support in Paris, Manika's experience and poise were evident throughout the match, allowing her to dominate and secure a well-deserved win.

Who is Manika Batra?

Manika Batra is an Indian table tennis player hailing from Delhi. The youngest of three siblings, Manika was introduced to the sport at age four, influenced by her elder sister Anchal and brother Sahil, both of whom also played table tennis. Her early talent was evident when she won a state-level under-8 tournament, prompting her to train under coach Sandeep Gupta at Hans Raj Model School.

Manika's career began to shine with a silver medal in the under-21 category at the 2011 Chile Open. She represented India at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2014 Asian Games, achieving quarterfinal finishes. Her breakout moment came at the 2015 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, where she won three medals, including silver in the women’s team and doubles events and bronze in singles.

The 2016 South Asian Games saw Manika secure three gold medals in women's doubles, mixed doubles, and the women's team events. That same year, she qualified for the Rio Olympics but was defeated in the first round.

Manika's most significant achievement came at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where she led India to a historic gold medal in the women's team event, defeating the dominant Singapore team. She also won India’s first-ever silver medal in women's doubles and claimed a historic gold in the singles event, bringing home four medals. In subsequent years, Manika continued her success, winning team gold at the 2019 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships.

Monday's achievement surpasses Manika's previous record at the Tokyo Olympics, where she became the first Indian women's table tennis player to reach the round of 32 in singles. In the same Tokyo Games, Achanta Sharath Kamal had also reached the round of 32 in the men's singles. Manika, currently ranked 28th in the world, is 10 places lower than Pavade. In 2021, she won the WTT Contender Budapest mixed doubles and the WTT Contender Lasko women's doubles. She competed in the inaugural WTT Grand Smash event in Singapore in 2022 and achieved a career-high ranking of world number four in women's doubles with Archana Girish Kamath.

Rally Behind Manika

As Manika advances further into the competition, let's rally behind her and celebrate this monumental achievement for Indian table tennis and sports at large.

Reference:

www.msn.com