Manika Batra pulls a stunning win over World No.2 Wang Manyu ahead of Paris Games

Before the Paris Olympics, Indian table tennis star Manika Batra entered the pre-quarterfinals with the biggest win of her singles career by defeating world number two Wang Manyu of China at the Saudi Smash tournament in Jeddah on Monday.

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

Manika Batra’s coach Aman Balgu said after the win, “It’s come just before the Olympics, so it raises hopes of a medal,”  

“It’s a big win before the Olympics. It’s a signal to others to not take India lightly in team events with Sreeja (Akula), Manika, and Ayhika getting these wins,” said former Olympian Neha Agarwal, adding she was especially delighted with how Batra closed out the match.

'Biggest achievement of my singles career'

This 28-year-old Indian player said, "Today was the biggest achievement of my singles career. I am very happy because it wasn’t just a day’s hard work. It takes days, months, and years of hard work to achieve such results.”

"I fought for every ball in the game and I’ll keep that fighting spirit up in the next match and coming tournaments as well," Manika Batra added.

Comeback after losing in the opening game

Manika Batra lost the opening game against the Tokyo Olympic team gold medalist and 2021 World Champion, but she came back by winning the next two games and then showed great spirit in the fourth game by defeating the Chinese player. Unseeded Manika had defeated Romania's Andreea Dragoman on Sunday. She will face 14th-ranked Nina Mittelham of Germany in the last 16 round on Tuesday.

Harmeet-Yashaswini pair in quarter finals

In mixed doubles, Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade defeated fifth-seeded Spanish pair of Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao 3-2 (11-5, 5-11, 3-11, 11-7,11-7) to reach the quarter-finals. The Indian pair had earlier defeated the Chilean pair of Nicolas Burgos and Paulina Vega 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-5). Asian Games bronze medalist pair Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee entered the pre-quarters after defeating Mariam and Mawra Alhodaby 3-0 (11-7, 1-3, 11-4).

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

Sreeja Akula faces defeat

However, Sreeja Akula, who recently became the top-ranked Indian women's singles player by defeating Manika, had to face defeat. Sreeja, ranked 38 in the world rankings, could not maintain her lead in the first game against Portugal and lost 7-11, 11-3, 11-9, 12-14. Earlier in singles, other Indians including Sharath Kamal, Archana Kamath, Manav Thakkar, and Sutirtha Mukherjee lost despite putting up a challenge.