In a one-sided affair at the Paris Olympics, Indian star Manika Batra shut out France's Prithika Pavade in the round of 32. Batra dominated the match with a clean 4-0 sweep, winning the games 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, and 11-7. It wasn't without a few nerves—Batra had to fight back from two points down in the opening game to win 11-9—but she quickly took control, winning the second game with ease. Despite a spirited effort from Pavade in the third set, Batra remained composed to take it 11-9.
Manika Batra, an Indian table tennis player, crushed Prithika Pavade of France in the women’s singles round of 32 at the Paris Olympics. Batra secured a comfortable 4-0 win over her French rival, winning by scores of 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, and 11-7. Batra rallied from a two-point deficit to win the first game, 11-9. The Indian player then easily won the second game, with a five-point lead. Despite Pavade’s efforts to fight in the third game, Manika Batra won 11-9.
Batra's journey to the round of 32 began with a tough victory over Anna Hursey of Great Britain in the round of 64. The 29-year-old displayed impressive grit, winning the match 11-8, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, and 11-5. This milestone was celebrated on social media by Olympics Khel, who pointed out that Batra is now the first Indian paddler in Olympic history to secure a spot in the Round of 16.
Maintaining a steady head under pressure was the hallmark of Batra's game. This was most evident in the third game against Hursey, where she trailed 8-7 but kept her nerves in check to win 11-9 on her second attempt at a game point. The fourth game was a rollercoaster; Batra jumped to an early 5-1 lead, but Hursey fought back to lead 6-5. After a series of lead changes, Hursey eventually snatched the game 11-9, completing a notable comeback.
Despite losing that fourth game, Batra didn't let the setback rattle her. She returned for the fifth game with renewed focus and total dominance, winning 11-5 to clinch the match. This win catapulted her into the round of 32, leaving fans hopeful that she can keep this momentum going deeper into the tournament.
Reflecting on her significant win, Batra shared her excitement about defeating a higher-ranked opponent, especially while playing in Paris against a French athlete. She mentioned that she isn't dwelling on the historical aspect of reaching the pre-quarters, preferring instead to take the competition one match at a time and simply give her maximum effort in every round.
Discussing her strategy, Batra explained that while she and her coach had planned to target her opponent's forehand, she noticed she was scoring more effectively on the backhand and decided to stick with what was working. She did mix in a few forehand shots to keep her opponent guessing. Batra credited her success to staying relaxed, noting that she uses breathing exercises to maintain her composure both on and off the court, a practice she intends to carry into her next match.