Manika Batra Backs Team India to Win the TT Medal in the Paris Olympics

Manika Batra set a new standard for Indian women's table tennis when she won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. Over the past six years, numerous Indian women paddlers have established their mark on the global scene. Now, the 29-year-old Batra feels India has a decent chance of capturing a coveted table tennis gold at the Paris Olympics, which run from July 26 to August 11.

Batra was instrumental in the Indian women's team qualifying for the Paris Olympics, which was a historic first for Indian table tennis. Her recent results, notably reaching the quarterfinals of the WTT Saudi Smash in May after defeating World No.2 and former world champion Wang Manyu of China and World No.14 Nina Mittelham of Germany, demonstrate her form and dedication. "India qualifying for the first time is a huge achievement," Batra stated in an interview with Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT). "I'm incredibly pleased with how we're working together at the camp. I believe we have a chance at the medal and should give our all."

Women's table tennis in India has grown rapidly, and Batra is sure that this trend will continue. "The growth of women's table tennis in India is truly inspiring." I see several of my teammates doing incredibly well. Everyone on the squad is motivated and training hard. "Women's table tennis in India will undoubtedly grow further," she said.

Batra credits his success to the exposure and possibilities afforded by UTT, which has allowed Indian players to prepare and compete against global stars. "UTT has been really beneficial to us since we have the opportunity to practice with and compete against foreign players. "We get good match practice," she explained.

As Batra prepares for the Paris Olympics with her colleagues, she thinks on the lessons she learned in Tokyo. She highlights the necessity of focusing on one match at a time, even if she is striving for a medal. "I learned a lot from the past Olympics, and I will not repeat those mistakes. My perspective has shifted since then; I am calmer and more confident in myself. I've been improving my stamina and agility, and my ultimate goal is to compete for a medal."

"But I'll go gently. I'll try to stay in the zone and do my best. I'll take it round by round and not think about a medal too soon. Batra, who represents PBG Bengaluru Smashers in UTT, stated that he will do his best for his country.

India will compete in both individual and team table tennis events in the Paris Olympics. Following the Olympics, star Indian paddlers such as Batra, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Sreeja Akula, and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran will compete alongside top global players such as World No. 10 Bernadette Szocs and Nigerian legend Quadri Aruna in the IndianOil UTT 2024, which will be held in Chennai from August 22 to September 7.