In a dramatic finish to her historic run at the Paris Olympics, Indian table tennis star Manika Batra, who made history as the first Indian woman to advance to the Round of 16 in the event, was ousted in the pre-quarterfinals by Japan’s Miu Hirano. The match, which showcased Batra’s resilience and skill, concluded with a 4-1 victory for Hirano.
Batra began the match on a strong note, taking an early lead. However, despite her promising start, she struggled to maintain her advantage as the match progressed. Hirano’s aggressive play proved too formidable, leading to Batra’s eventual defeat. Reflecting on her performance, Batra expressed her frustration at losing the lead. “I was leading, and that really hurts because I should have stayed calm in the moment. I was trying to win and lost my composure. I will treat it as a learning lesson and will give it my all in the next Olympics,” she told reporters after the match.
The encounter was a rollercoaster of emotions for Batra. The first game saw her tied at 6-6 before a series of five consecutive points led to a loss at 11-6. Despite a strong start in the second game, where she held a 5-1 lead, Batra succumbed to a 9-11 defeat. She bounced back with a promising performance in the third set, clinching a 14-12 win, but Hirano’s relentless aggression proved too much in the subsequent games, which Batra lost 11-8 and 11-6.
“I don’t think anything went wrong, but I could have put in more effort. I was there to give my best for my country and I did, but internally I am not happy with myself how I started,” Batra admitted. Despite her disappointment, she praised her opponent and remained optimistic about future competitions. “We have a good draw and we are all well-prepared. Sreeja is playing well, Archana is playing well, and I think we will give our best for our country,” she concluded.
Batra’s commendable performance in the Round of 32, where she defeated home favorite and higher-ranked Prithika Pavade, highlighted her remarkable skill and determination. Alongside Batra, Sreeja Akula will continue to represent India in her Round of 16 matchup against China’s Sun Yingsha.
Looking ahead, Batra, along with Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath, will focus on the Women’s Teams Competition, which will commence following the conclusion of the singles events. India’s first match in the team event will be against Romania.
As Batra and her team shift their focus to the upcoming challenges, the 29-year-old remains hopeful and driven, ready to channel her experiences into future successes on the international stage.
