Manika Batra Explained

Manika Batra
Fullname:Manika Batra
Nationality:Indian
Playingstyle:Shakehand grip
Hrank:24[1]
Crank:26 (27 May 2024)[2]
Birth Date:15 June 1995
Birth Place:Delhi, India
Height:1.8m (05.9feet) (2018)
Weight:67kg (148lb) (2018)
Show-Medals:yes

Manika Batra (born 15 June 1995) is an Indian table tennis player. She was the top female singles table tennis player in India and currently is ranked second in India. She is currently ranked 28 in the world by ITTF as of July 2024. She is one of the female players who uses a long pimple rubber.[3] She was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2020.[4]

Early life

Batra was born on 15 June 1995 as the youngest of three children.[5] She hails from Naraina Vihar in Delhi[6] and began playing table tennis at the age of four.[7] Her elder sister Anchal and elder brother Sahil both played table tennis,[8] with Anchal having an influence on her during her early playing career.[9] After winning a match in a state-level under-8 tournament, Batra decided to train under coach Sandeep Gupta who suggested her to switch to Hans Raj Model School where he ran his academy.[8]

Batra turned down many modelling offers as a teenager.[10] When she was 16, she declined a scholarship to train at the Peter Karlsson Academy in Sweden.[11] She studied at the Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi for a year before dropping out to concentrate on table tennis.[12]

Career

In 2011, Batra won the silver medal in the under-21 category of the Chile Open.[7] She represented India at the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Glasgow, where she finished quarterfinalist,[8] as well as the 2014 Asian Games. She won three medals at the 2015 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships,[9] winning silver in the women's team event (with Ankita Das and Mouma Das) as well as the women's doubles event (with Ankita Das) and bronze in the women's singles event.[13]

Batra won three gold medals at the 2016 South Asian Games,[14] winning the women's doubles event (with Pooja Sahasrabudhe), mixed doubles event (with Anthony Amalraj) and women's team event (with Mouma Das and Shamini Kumaresan). Batra was denied a fourth gold medal at the Games by Mouma Das, who defeated her in the final of the women's singles event.[15]

2016 Summer Olympics

Batra qualified for the women's singles event of the 2016 Summer Olympics by winning the South Asia group of the qualification tournament in April 2016.[16] However, her appearance at the 2016 Olympics short-lived, as she lost to Katarzyna Grzybowska of Poland in the first round of the women's individual event.[17]

Batra led the Indian women's team to a gold medal win in the final against four-time gold medalists and defending champions Singapore at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.[18] The Singapore women's table tennis team had never lost in the Commonwealth Games since the sport was inducted in the program in 2002. Batra defeated world number 4 Feng Tianwei as well as Zhou Yihan in India's 3–1 win in the final.[19]

Batra and Mouma Das won India's maiden silver medal in the women's doubles category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games losing to defending champions Feng Tianwei and Yu Mengyu of Singapore in the gold medal clash.Batra became the first Indian woman to bag a commonwealth table tennis individual gold medal in CWG 2018 by beating Yu Mengyu of Singapore. She won 4 medals in 4 events she was participating out of which 2 are gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.[20]

At the 2019 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, Batra was the member of the women's team which win the gold by defeating Singapore in the final.[21]

2020 Summer Olympics

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Batra reached the third round of the women's singles event, becoming the first Indian paddler to reach the third round at the Olympics in a singles event.[22] [23] [24]

Batra won the 2021 wtt contender Budapest mixed doubles with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran by outplaying Hungary's Dora Madarasz and Nandor Ecseki 3-1.[25] Batra then won wtt contender Lasko 2021 women's doubles with Archana Girish Kamath by beating Diaz Sisters pair of Melanie Diaz and Adriana Diaz from Puerto Rico 11-3, 11-8, 12-10. The Indian duo saved four game points in the third set to seal the match.[26]

Batra participated at the 1st ever WTT Grand Smash event which was the Singapore Smash 2022. In the singles her run ended in the 1st round after losing to Zhang Mo.[27] In the mixed doubles she and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran lost top seeds Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I Ching in straight games 3-0. In the women's doubles event she and Archana Girish Kamath lost to Japanese pair of Hina Hayata and Mima Itō 3-0 in the Quarter-finals.[28]

Batra settled for silver at WTT Contender Doha 2022 with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in mixed doubles where they lost against the top-seeded Chinese Taipei pair of Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-Ching. The Indians lost 4-11, 5-11, 3-11 in straight games.[29] Batra then bagged a bronze at WTT Star Contender Doha 2022 in women's doubles event with Archana Girish Kamath. They lost in the Semi-finals to Li Yu-Jhun and Cheng I-Ching 8-11, 6-11, 7-11.[30]

On 5 April 2022, the pair of Batra and Archana Girish Kamath reached the pair ranking of world no. 4 which is the highest ever ranking by an Indian Table Tennis player in all categories (Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, Mixed Doubles).[31]

2024 Summer Olympics

At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Batra reached the Round of 16 of the women's singles event, becoming the first Indian paddler to reach the Round of 16 at the Olympics in a singles event.[32] However, she lost 1-4 to Japan's Miu Hirano in five games.[33]

Controversies

In September 2021, Batra accused Indian National Coach Soumyadeep Roy of pressuring her to throw a match at the Olympic Qualifiers (in March) to his personal student.[34]

Awards

In the media

Batra was featured on the cover of the July 2018 issue of Femina.[35]

She also featured in the November 2018 edition of Vogue Magazine.[36]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking Women's Singles 2022 Week #18. ittf.com. 19 November 2022. 8 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221008093819/https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022_18_SEN_WS.html. live.
  2. Web site: ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking. ittf.com. 27 May 2022. 22 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161122094336/http://www.ittf.com/rankings/. live.
  3. Web site: ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking. ittf.com. 19 November 2022. 22 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161122094336/http://www.ittf.com/rankings/. live.
  4. News: 'It motivates me to work harder': Manika Batra on winning Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna . 18 October 2020 . DNA India . 29 August 2020 . en . 18 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201018172927/https://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-it-motivates-me-to-work-harder-manika-batra-on-winning-rajiv-gandhi-khel-ratna-2840070 . live .
  5. News: Judge. Shahid. India's table tennis hope for Rio 2016 Olympics – Manika Batra. 6 July 2016. The Indian Express. 3 July 2016. 9 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160809162952/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/rio-2016-olymics-table-tennis-manika-batra-2890311/. live.
  6. News: Paddler Manika Batra completes hat-trick of gold medals at South Asian Games. 4 July 2016. News18. 10 February 2016. 19 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819233842/http://www.news18.com/news/other-sports/paddler-manika-batra-completes-hat-trick-of-gold-medals-at-south-asian-games-1201398.html. live.
  7. News: Manika Batra: the new hope of the nation. The Hindu. 28 June 2016. 21 August 2011. 5 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140505221639/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/manika-batra-the-new-hope-of-the-nation/article2378176.ece. live.
  8. News: 31 July 2024 . ITTF Table Tennis Rankings . live . 1 Aug 2024 . ITTF.
  9. News: Ghoshal. Shuvro. Interview with Manika Batra: "I don't want to go to Rio Olympics and return without a medal". 4 July 2016 . Yahoo!. 11 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160822193541/https://in.news.yahoo.com/interview-manika-batra-don-t-140150037.html. 22 August 2016. dead.
  10. Web site: Manika Batra. Glasgow 2014. 28 June 2016. 18 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160618034632/http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/table_tennis/1027589/m_batra.html. live.
  11. News: Judge. Shahid. Improved fitness key to Manika Batra's consistency. The Indian Express. 28 June 2016. 18 December 2015. 23 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160623225746/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/improved-fitness-key-to-manikas-consistency/. live.
  12. News: Patra. Pratyush. Delhi love & Rio talk before Olympics. 6 July 2016. The Times of India. 6 May 2016. 6 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160806215206/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/delhi/Delhi-love-Rio-talk-before-Olympics/articleshow/52126764.cms. live.
  13. News: Keerthivasan. K.. Singapore sweeps singles titles. 6 July 2016. The Hindu. 21 December 2015. 4 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210904201101/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/avadh20th-commonwealth-table-tennis-championships-singapore-sweeps-singles-titles/article8014783.ece. live.
  14. News: Rio Zone – Manika Batra: Nation's new hope. Pune Mirror. 28 June 2016. 1 June 2016. 25 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160625143126/http://www.punemirror.in/sports/others/Rio-Zone-Manika-Batra-Nations-new-hope/articleshow/52542678.cms. live.
  15. News: South Asian Games: India clean sweeps 12 medals in Table Tennis. 6 July 2016. Ten Sports. 10 February 2016. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305055351/http://www.tensports.com/news/south-asian-games-india-clean-sweeps-12-medals-table-tennis. live.
  16. News: Table Tennis: Soumyajit Ghosh, Manika Batra book Rio Olympics berths with victories in Asian Qualifiers. DNA India. 28 June 2016. 14 April 2016. 19 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160419161100/http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-table-tennis-soumyajit-ghosh-manika-batra-book-rio-olympics-berths-with-victories-in-asian-qualifiers-2202068. live.
  17. News: Rio Olympics 2016: Mouma Das, Manika Batra lose as Indian women's challenge in table tennis ends. 8 August 2016. First Post. 6 August 2016. 10 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160810221035/http://www.firstpost.com/sports/rio-olympics-2016-mouma-das-manika-batra-lose-as-indian-womens-challenge-in-table-tennis-ends-2939704.html. live.
  18. News: Manika Batra leads India to historic women Table Tennis gold at Commonwealth Games . . 8 April 2018 . 8 April 2018 . 14 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180614045632/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/manika-batra-leads-india-to-historic-women-table-tennis-gold-at-commonwealth-games/articleshow/63668849.cms . live .
  19. News: CWG 2018: India women win gold in table tennis team event . Commonwealth Games News . Times of India . 8 April 2018 . 8 April 2018 . 8 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180408184329/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/commonwealth-games/cwg-2018-india-women-win-gold-in-table-tennis-team-event/articleshow/63668428.cms . live .
  20. Web site: Manika Batra wins bronze in the mixed doubles to win her fourth medal. 14 April 2018. 15 April 2018. 15 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180415191830/http://www.espn.com/commonwealth-games/story/_/id/23175253/manika-batra-wins-bronze-mixed-doubles-win-fourth-medal-cwg. live.
  21. Web site: Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships: India men, women paddlers storm into final. 19 July 2019.
  22. News: Manika Batra – All You Need To Know. SportsTiger. 24 July 2021. 25 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210725135901/https://www.sportstiger.com/manika-batra-all-you-need-to-know/. live.
  23. News: Tokyo Olympics Manika Batra stuns Ukraines's Margaryta Pesotska to reach third round. The Hindu. 25 July 2021. 26 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210726082554/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/tokyo-olympics-manika-batra-stuns-margaryta-pesotska-to-reach-third-round/article35520526.ece. live.
  24. News: 26 July 2021. Tokyo Olympics: Manika Batra bows out with 3rd round loss to Austria's Polcanova. hindustantimes. 27 July 2021. 28 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210728092138/https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/olympics/tokyo-olympics-manika-batra-bows-out-with-3rd-round-loss-to-austria-s-polcanova-india-s-challenge-ends-in-table-tennis-women-s-singles-101627291466132.html. live.
  25. Web site: Manika Batra, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran win 2021 WTT Contender Budapest mixed doubles title. 20 August 2021. 20 August 2021 . 20 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210820152018/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/other-sports/story/manika-batra-sathiyan-gnanasekaran-win-2021-wtt-contender-budapest-mixed-doubles-title-1843428-2021-08-20. live.
  26. News: Manika and Archana win their maiden women's doubles title in Slovenia. 7 November 2021. The Times of India . 7 November 2021 .
  27. Web site: Singapore Smash 2022: G Sathiyan Prevails; Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra Make First Round Exit. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022 . 13 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220313053258/https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/singapore-smash-2022-g-sathiyan-prevails-sharath-kamal-manika-batra-make-first-round-exit-news-186586. live.
  28. Web site: Indian Campaign Ends in Singapore Smash after Exit of Manika Batra-Archana Kamath Pair. 15 March 2022. 15 March 2022 . 15 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220315174631/https://www.news18.com/news/sports/indian-campaign-ends-in-singapore-smash-after-exit-of-manika-batra-archana-kamath-pair-4877870.html. live.
  29. Web site: WTT Contender: Manika Batra-G Sathiyan pair settle for silver, Sharath Kamal ends up with bronze. 25 March 2022. . 25 March 2022 . 12 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220412091229/https://theprint.in/sport/wtt-contender-manika-batra-g-sathiyan-pair-settle-for-silver-sharath-kamal-ends-up-with-bronze/887603/. live.
  30. News: Manika-Archana pair settles for bronze in WTT Star Contender. 30 March 2022. The Times of India. 30 March 2022 .
  31. Web site: Manika Batra and Archana Kamath create history, become first Indian to reach number 4 in ITTF rankings. 5 April 2022. 5 April 2022 . 5 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220405120528/https://www.jansatta.com/khel/manika-batra-and-archana-kamath-create-history-become-1st-indian-to-reach-number-4-in-ittf-rankings/2116770/. live.
  32. Web site: Paris Olympics 2024: Manika Batra Sinks France's Pavade in Four Straight Games to Seal Historic Round of 16 Spot. 30 July 2024. News 18.
  33. Web site: Sriram . Siddarth . Paris Olympics 2024: Manika Batra Falls to Japan's Miu Hirano in Five Games, Crashes Out in Round of 16 . www.news18.com . Network18 Media and Investments Ltd . 31 July 2024.
  34. Web site: 4 September 2021. Manika Batra Accuses Indian National Coach of Match-Fixing. 4 September 2021. edgesandnets.com. en-US. 4 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210904201107/https://edgesandnets.com/wp-content/plugins/layout-grid/style.css?ver=1619424372. dead.
  35. News: India's golden girls glam up Femina's latest cover. Rediff. 17 July 2018. 17 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180717212615/http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/fashion-indias-golden-girls-glam-up-feminas-latest-cover/20180710.htm. live.
  36. Web site: Did you know Manika Batra turned down modelling as a career? . 2024-05-11 . Mid-day . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Manika Batra".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.