Manika Batra made history as the first Indian table tennis player to reach the pre-quarterfinals of any singles event at the Olympics. The 29-year-old triumphed over France’s world No. 18, Prithika Pavade, commanding the match from start to finish with scores of 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, and 11-7. This victory earned her a place in the Round of 16, where she will face either Hong Kong’s Zhu Chengzhu or Japan’s Miu Hirano.
This match marked a significant achievement in Indian table tennis at the Olympics. Manika had previously reached the round of 32 at the Tokyo Olympics and improved on that performance on Monday.
In the opening game, Batra overcame a two-point deficit to win 11-9. She then comfortably claimed the second game with a five-point lead, 11-6. Despite Pavade’s resilience in the third game, Batra secured another 11-9 victory.
In the fourth game, Batra started strong, quickly gaining a 5-1 lead. However, Pavade rallied to take the lead at 6-5. The lead exchanged hands several times, and Pavade eventually took the game 11-9, staging a significant comeback.
Despite the setback, Batra regained her focus and determination in the fifth game. She dominated with an 11-5 win, securing her overall victory and advancing to the round of 16.
In the Round of 64, Manika Batra defeated Great Britain’s Anna Hursey. Batra delivered a strong performance, winning 11-8, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, advancing to the round of 32.