Manika Batra breaks barriers: First Indian woman in top 16 of table tennis in Olympic history

Manika Batra on Day 3 of the Paris Olympics 2024 created history as she became the first Indian table tennis player to reach the singles pre-quarterfinals at the Games. Manika beat world number 18 French player Prithika Pavade who is of Indian origin. 
 

Manika dominated the proceedings as she beat the world number 18 Prithika 11-9 11-6 11-9 11-7. 
 

Manika and Prithika went toe-to-toe in the first game. In the end, she held her nerve and set up a game-point. She won the first game with a fiery forehand.
 

The second game started with both players not giving each other an inch. However, after 5-5, Manika upped the ante and set herself up well with four game points. 
 

After the third game, the 19-year-old Prithika had to take a timeout to rework on her strategy. But Manika was high on confidence and did not break a sweat and finished the match in 37 minutes to make it to the round of 16.

Manika ecstatic to beat French player in Paris

After the game, Manika said that she was not thinking about creating history and wants to take it one game at a time. 
 

"I am happy that I beat a French player in Paris. I defeated a higher-ranked player. I did not think of creating history and making the pre-quarters, there are more rounds, I will take it match by match and give my best as I always do," the 29-year-old told PTI.

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Manika had planned to attack Prithika’s forehand 

Manika revealed that she had strategised with her coach to attack Prithika's backhand and the ploy paid off.
 

"I had planned to play to her forehand as discussed with my coach but I was getting the points on her backhand, so I did not change the tactics. I did play a few shot on her forehand too, I did not want her to think that I am playing only on her backhand.

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"It was a tough match. Staying relaxed helps me both on and off the court. I do breathing exercises that help me during the match. I will give my best whoever I play against in the next round," she said.
 

Manika will now take on Hong Kong's Zhu Chengzu and Japan's Miu Hirano.
 

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