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WTT Saudi Smash: Manika Batra Knocked Out In Quarter-Finals

admin — Thu, 09 May 2024 14:46:45 +0000

File photo of Manika Batra© Twitter

The brilliant campaign of top Indian woman paddler Manika Batra at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Saudi Smash came to an end after she lost to World No.5 Hina Hayata of Japan in the quarterfinals, on Thursday. Japan’s Hayata beat World No.39 Manika 4-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-4, 13-11, 11-2) in 39 minutes to reach the semifinals.

The 28-year-old Indian had started her campaign in Saudi Smash with a 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-8) win over Andreea Dragoman of Spain in the first round.

In the round of 32 Manika came back after losing the first game to win the next three to stun the top Chinese player and Olympic medallist World No. 2, Wang Manyu and won the match 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 in 38 minutes.

Manika is expected to regain her status as the top-ranked Indian female in the ITTF World Rankings after a successful run in Jeddah.

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Manika Batra Slays World No.14 To Reach Quarterfinal At WTT Grand Smash Event

admin — Thu, 09 May 2024 10:25:29 +0000

Manika Batra in action© X (formerly Twitter)

Manika Batra has become the first Indian woman table tennis player to enter the quarterfinals of an elite WTT event following her victory over world number 14 Nina Mittelham at the Grand Smash event. After stunning world number two Wang Manyu in the second round, Batra extended her red hot form in Saudi Arabia with a 11-6 11-9 11-7 win over her German rival in just 22 minutes on Wednesday. It was Batra’s first win over Mittelham in four attempts and now she will face another formidable rival in world number five Hina Hayata of Japan on Thursday evening. The Indian will be backing herself to put it past Hayata as she had upset the Japanese to win a historic bronze in the Asia Cup back in 2022.

“I’m feeling really proud with myself that I played my best game today after beating Wang Manyu. That match was really important to me and I was happy and excited so I had to keep myself calm for this match,” said the 28-year-old Batra.

“Everything is going right here. Everything in my room, in my practice session, in my match; so I think I love this country! This is my first quarterfinals in a Smash so I’m really thankful to everyone that was there to cheer and my practice partner for coaching me and my coach in India,” she added.

Batra, who is currently ranked 39, is set to break into the top-25 following a memorable week here.

Batra had shocked China’s Wang on Monday after getting past Romania’s Andreea Dragoman in the first round, her first win at a Grand Smash event.

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Manika Batra Stuns World No.2 From China To Enter Saudi Smash Pre-Quarters

admin — Mon, 06 May 2024 18:24:49 +0000

Indian table tennis star Manika Batra shocked World No. 2 Wang Manyu of China to secure the biggest win of her singles career and enter the pre-quarterfinals of the Saudi Smash on Monday. Manika, ranked 39, beat the second-seeded Chinese 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 in just 37 minutes. Though Manika lost the opening game against the Tokyo Olympics team gold medallist and 2021 World Champion, she fought back well to take the next two games quickly. The 25-year-old from China kept herself in the match until Manika, without giving her another opportunity, claimed the last two points to seal a famous win.

The unseeded Manika, who accounted for Andreea Dragoman of Romania on Sunday, clashes with 14th ranked Nina Mittelham of Germany, in the round of 16 on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old from India had lost 0-4 to Wang Manyu in the World Cup last month. Though Manika has beaten top-10 players in the past, the win over Wang Manyu takes the cake.

“It is the biggest achievement of my singles career. I am really really happy that I won against her. I have been working hard in in my training sessions with my coach Aman Balgu and my trainers.

“You have to got to keep on working hard (to achieve something like this). Thank you all for believing in me. I will keep this fighting spirit for my next match,” she said after the match.

In mixed doubles, Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade surprised the Spanish fifth-seeded pair of Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao 3-2 (11-5, 5-11, 3-11, 11-7,11-7) to storm into the quarterfinals.

In the pre-quarters, the Indian duo had beaten the Chilean pair of Nicolas Burgos and Paulina Vega 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-5).

Asian Games bronze medallists Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee ended a successful day in Jeddah when the pair defeated Mariam and Marwa Alhodaby 3-0 (11-7, 1-3, 11-4) to enter the pre-quarters.

The Asian Games bronze medallists Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee ended a successful day in Jeddah when the pair defeated Mariam and Marwa Alhodaby 3-0 (11-7, 1-3, 11-4) to enter the pre-quarters.

However, Sreeja Akula, who upstaged Manika in the world ranking to occupy the No. 38 position, lost 7-11, 11-3, 11-9, 12-14 to Jieni Saho after leading the Portuguese in two games.

Earlier other Indians went down with good fights in singles including A. Sharath Kamal, Archana Kamath, Manav Thakkar and Sutirtha Mukherjee.

Sharath, who met Aruna Qadri of Nigeria in the round of 64, lost after a gutsy performance after leading 2-0. Qadri beat Sharath 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 13-11.

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