Manika Batra Shines at Paris 2024 Olympics with a Stunning Victory

In an exciting turn of events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, India’s Manika Batra has made headlines by defeating France’s Prithika Pavade in a thrilling women’s singles match. The game took place at the South Paris Arena, where Manika showcased her exceptional skills as she won in straight games with a score of 4-0.

Ranked 28th in the world, Manika faced off against the higher-ranked Pavade, who is currently ranked 18th. Despite the pressure of playing in the French capital, Manika’s performance was top-notch. After the match, she expressed her joy saying, “It was the best match, playing against a French player in France and winning was amazing. I’m really happy that I won against Prithika because she has a higher rank than me.”

The match was intense from the start, with the first game tying at 8-8 before Manika made her move. She quickly took the second game and then launched into a solid lead in the third. Even though Pavade managed to save some game points, Manika’s fierce backhand strokes helped her to clinch the game and secure her spot in the pre-quarterfinals.

Next up for Manika is a showdown against either Zhu Chengzhu from Hong Kong China or Miu Hirano from Japan as she continues her quest for Olympic glory. Earlier on her journey, Manika had already made an impression by defeating Great Britain’s Anna Hursey in the round of 64.

Meanwhile, India’s other Olympic debutant Sreeja Akula is looking to join Manika in the next round. Akula had an impressive performance against Sweden’s Christina Kallberg where she won 4-0 and is set to compete against Zeng Jian from Singapore soon.

On a bittersweet note, India’s campaign in the men’s singles didn’t go as planned as star players Sharath Kamal and Harmeet Desai faced exits in the round of 16. Looking ahead, the Indian men’s team, which includes Sharath, Harmeet, and Manav Thakkar, is facing a tough challenge against the reigning champions from China in the team competition.

Similarly, the women’s team, featuring Manika, Sreeja, and Archana Kamath, is set to compete against Romania in their opening match. The Olympics have truly been a blending of emotions as Indian players aim to leave their mark on the world stage this summer.