In a historic achievement for Indian table tennis, Manika Batra has become the first Indian woman to reach the singles pre-quarterfinals at the Olympics. On Monday, Batra delivered a stellar performance at the Paris Games, defeating the 18th-ranked Prithika Pavade, a French player with Indian roots, in straight sets.
Batra’s impressive 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 victory marks a significant milestone, surpassing her previous round of 32 finish at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I am thrilled to have won against a local player here in Paris and to have overcome a higher-ranked opponent. I did not focus on making history but on each match as it comes. My goal remains to keep performing well and advancing further,” Batra remarked after the match.
Batra’s tactical play was pivotal in her victory. Initially, her strategy was to target Pavade’s forehand, as per her coach’s advice. However, Batra found success by attacking Pavade’s backhand, adapting her approach as the match progressed.
“I had originally planned to target her forehand, but I found that attacking her backhand was yielding better results. I mixed in some shots to her forehand to keep her off balance. Staying calm and focused helps me perform better, and I rely on breathing exercises to maintain my composure,” Batra explained.
Prithika Pavade, born in Paris to parents from Puducherry, had shown significant progress since her debut in the Tokyo Olympics. Despite her recent success, including reaching the WTT final for the first time, she was unable to counter Batra’s relentless pressure.
The match began with a tight first game, with Batra emerging victorious after inducing a critical error from Pavade. She maintained her momentum into the second game, leveraging consistent attacks on Pavade’s backhand to secure a 2-0 lead.
Despite a brief comeback attempt by Pavade in the third game, Batra’s superior play secured her a 3-0 lead. The fourth game saw Batra closing out the match with a commanding performance, winning 11-7 and sealing her spot in the pre-quarterfinals.
Batra now looks ahead to the next round, where she will continue her quest for Olympic glory.
