Sreeja Akula overtakes Manika Batra in the latest world rankings to become India's number one paddler

Sreeja Akula has overtaken long-reigning Manika Batra to claim the number-one spot in the latest world rankings released on Tuesday. Sreeja has clinched the top position for the first time in her career, making her India's top most paddler in the women's table tennis singles category.

Also Read: ITTF Singles World Cup 2024: Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula in tough group

Sreeja Akula achieved a new career-high world ranking of 38, advancing by one spot in the rankings ladder. On the other hand, Manika, who had held the number one position for the past six years, experienced a slight setback, slipping two places to be ranked 39th globally. 

Sreeja had a tremendous year in 2024 at the World Table Tennis tournament, which included two titles at feeder tournaments, WTT Feeder Corpus Christi and WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024. Meanwhile, Manika whose main focus was on mixed doubles for the last few months hadn't played feeder tournaments and hence lost quite a lot of ranking points. Both of the Indian players are now focusing on the second smash tournament of the year, the Saudi Smash from 1-11 May in Saudi Arabia. The tournament will offer a lot of ranking points hence both of them will try to make full use of this top-tier tournament.

Sreeja and Manika are also at the forefront in securing their places in Paris Olympics 2024 in the team for singles matches.

Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: G Sathiyan-Manika Batra fail to win Olympic quota at WMDTT Olympic Qualifiers

In men's singles, Sharath is still leading the Indian charts unanimously at 37th position while Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (60) again surpassed Manav Thakkar (61) as India's no.2, closely followed by Harmeet Desai (64). The fight for two singles spots at the Paris Olympics is getting tighter between the three Indians in the men's singles category with just a difference of four positions between them.