India’s experienced table tennis player Manika Batra has created history. In the last 32 matches of the Olympic table tennis event, Manika Batra defeated 12th seed Preethika Pavade of France in straight sets. Commonwealth Games champion and 18th seed Manika Batra won 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 in a match that lasted 37 minutes. She has become the first Indian player to reach the last-16 of Olympic table tennis. So far no other player has been able to go beyond the Round of 32 for India in this competition, but Manika Batra has created history.
Manika had trouble adjusting against the left-handed player in the first game and it was a very close match. Manika won the last three points by 11-9. The match was very close in the beginning of the second game too, but after the tie at 6-6, Manika did not give any chance to Prithika and she won 11-6. Manika continued the momentum of the second game and took a lead of five points in the third game, but Prithika scored four consecutive points to make the score 9-10. Under pressure, Preethika played the ball over the net and Manika won the game 11-9.
Manika converted a good start by leading 6-2 into a 10-4 lead in the fourth game to grab six match points. Prithika was successful in saving three match points, but Manika converted the fourth point and won the match. In the pre-quarterfinals, Manika will face the winner of the match between eighth seeded Hirono Miyu of Japan and Zhu Chengzhu of Hong Kong. Manika Batra is also being considered among the medal contenders. However, to win the medal, Manika Batra will have to perform similar in the remaining knockout matches.
