India vs Romania Table Tennis at Paris Olympics 2024 Highlights: India marches into the quarterfinal after winning challenging R-16 battle against Romania

India vs Romania Women's Table Tennis Round of 16 at Paris Olympics 2024: India made the perfect debut in their women's team event, winning the tie 3-2 to qualify for the quarterfinals. Follow Sportskeeda for live updates on India vs Romania at Paris Olympics 2024

It is indeed a moment to savour for the fans of Indian table tennis. The women's team are theoretically, only a couple of steps away from a medal now. It is time for Darpan Tikiya and Maanas Upadhyay to sign off from this window and slip into sweet reveries of Olympic glory. But the coverage for Paris Olympics continues on Sportskeeda. Click here to be redirected to our main blog.

India's women's team book themselves a historic quarterfinals berth

HISTORY FOR INDIAN TABLE TENNIS!! The women's team has pulled of an upset that would be talked about for a long time. They have defeated the team ranked 4th in the world. Romania were indeed the favourites going into the match. They might not have begun strong, but came back from behind after being down by 2-0 and dragged the match into the decider. However, Batra held her nerves in the final match and took the team home.

Earlier, India had hit the ground running, winning the opening double's match in straight games. Akula and Kamath delineated immaculate coordination. While Akula impressed with her side spin serves and blocks, Kamath was ruthless with her powerful forehand returns. The forehand smash was indeed the flavour of the encounter. We saw Manika Batra deploy the same, far too often then she normally does. India won the first two matches comfortably. Even in the third match, Akula was one game away from sealing the deal. But then, Elizabeta Samara put her experience on display. The left hander brought her team back from behind as she got the better of India's highest ranked paddler in the third match.

The Romanian resurgence continued in the fourth game too as Bernadette Szocs' skilful wrist work proved to be too good for Archana Kamath. However, in the decider, Manika Batra took charge and unfurled her full range. Adina Dioconu fought valiantly but Batra was in her zone and hard to stop. The golden girl of Indian table tennis, eventually won the game in 3 straight sets and India registered a berth in the quarterfinals.

India 3 - 2 Romania

Kamath/Akula bt. Diaconu/Samara 3-0 (11-9, 12-10, 11-7)
Batra bt. Szocs 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-7)
Akula lost to Samara 2-3 (11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11)
Kamath lost to Szocs 1-3 (5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 9-11)
Batra bt. Diaconu 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-9)

Match 5, Game 3: Manika 11 - 9 Adina [Game Score 3 - 0] [Match Score: India 3 - 2 Romania]

INDIA ARE THROUGH TO THE QUARTERFINALS! Manika Batra steps up when it matters the most and in their debut in the team event, they beat a much, much higher-seeded Romanian outfit to make their way into the quarterfinal!

Match 5, Game 3: Manika 10 - 8 Adina [Game Score 2 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Adina goes to Manika's backhand and Manika just cannot get her racquet around in time. She simply pushes it away with her hand. And it is MATCH POINT for Manika, who forces an error out of Adina's return.

Match 5, Game 3: Manika 9 - 7 Adina [Game Score 2 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Continuous errors on the trot by Manika and she's pretty distraught! She squanders a three point lead but does not wait long enough before using her backhand to good effect.

Match 5, Game 3: Manika 7 - 5 Adina [Game Score 2 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

A backhand push by Manika lands out of the table but she follows it up with a backhand smash that goes to Adina's backhand, who cannot fetch it from there.

Match 5, Game 3: Manika 6 - 4 Adina [Game Score 2 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Manika with a one-point lead and Adina is just not able to counter her aggressive brand of table tennis. Once again, the angles being used by the Indian are causing problems for her opponent.

Match 5, Game 3: Manika 3 - 3 Adina [Game Score 2 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

A booming forehand smash by Manika Batra and she levels it all up. Adina's return is not a good one, well it doesn't land on the table. The Romanian committing too many errors. Manika bears a wry smile as she concedes a point.

Match 5, Game 3: Manika 1 - 2 Adina [Game Score 2 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Couple of points on the trot for Adina to start off this contest but Manika pulls it back with a great backhand push.

This game was an absolute rollercoaster. Diaconu pulled her game up and had a comfortable lead at one point. But Batra came back from behind to take this game. India finds itself on the brink of history now.

Match 5, Game 2: Manika 11 - 9 Adina [Game Score 2 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Adina's ball clips the net and pops up in the air, setting up nicely for a booming forehand smash to close the point. Goes to the forehand end of Adina after pushing her in the opposite end, and the Romanian fails to land her return on the table! A loud road and India is just 1 game away from going into the quarterfinals!

Match 5, Game 2: Manika 9 - 9 Adina [Game Score 1 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

A backhand push down the line and the Romanian's return does not land on the table! Manika in the lead! And this time, Manika's forehand top-spin goes flying over the edge. It's getting tense!

Match 5, Game 2: Manika 8 - 8 Adina [Game Score 1 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Top-spin down the line and Manika cannot reach it! Manika has clawed her way back into the contest and she's mixing her serves really well, adding more back-spin, which is causing problems for the Romanian.

Match 5, Game 2: Manika 5 - 7 Adina [Game Score 1 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Adina is not letting Manika take a lead here! She is crafting her points well and Manika is losing majority of her points due to her own errors. Another smash to the backhand side and Manika isn't ready for it, defending it with her hand.

Match 5, Game 2: Manika 4 - 4 Adina [Game Score 1 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

The ball was set up nicely for Manika's smash and it goes between Adina's racquet and her body. She really had no clue of it! Plenty of attacking shots from her forehand and her opponent smashes it straight into the net.

Match 5, Game 2: Manika 2 - 4 Adina [Game Score 1 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Manika gives away a couple of points courtesy of some unforced errors. Both paddlers take a quick breather. The pressure is building up!

Match 5, Game 2: Manika 2 - 2 Adina [Game Score 1 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Manika stays low and looks for the smash, which clips the net and goes out of bounds. A smash by Adina on Manika's body and the Indian can only deflect it with her hand. Terrific placement by Manika as she picks up another point!

Manika kept things simple in that set. We did not see the famous twiddle from her. Though, her forehand returns and stance have been immaculate. She bent down to return it flat on the penultimate point. Diaconu looked clueless at times.

Match 5, Game 1: Manika 11 - 5 Adina [Game Score 1 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

A smash towards the backhand end of Adina, whose return cannot land on the table. A loud 'Chole' by Manika and she pumps the air in delight!

Match 5, Game 1: Manika 10 - 5 Adina [Game Score 0 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Two points on the trot for Adina but soon after, Manika ends that little comeback, collects a couple of points to get to the game point!

Match 5, Game 1: Manika 8 - 3 Adina [Game Score 0 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Manika using her long pimples to good effect but a flick-push from her catches the net. However, she makes up for it with a terrific forehand smash that Adina cannot reach.

Manika screams with vehemence as she swells her lead. Diaconu is finding it tough.

Match 5, Game 1: Manika 7 - 2 Adina [Game Score 0 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

A rally of forehand smashes and Adina's goes well out of bounds. Remember, Adina earlier lost the doubles match.

Match 5, Game 1: Manika 5 - 1 Adina [Game Score 0 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

Manika is exploring some unique angles, and Adina is not up to the challenge, either missing the ball completely or finding the net. Manika with the early lead, and she's just settling in now!

Match 5, Game 1: Manika 2 - 1 Adina [Game Score 0 - 0] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

A smash from Adina finds the net first up, getting Manika off the mark. Experienced manoeuvring by Manika but her return on a smash is awry, taking the ball well out of bounds.

India's Manika Batra will face Romania's Adina Diaconu next in the decider match of this Round of 16 match. Can India's golden girl of table tennis lead the team to the quarterfinals? Stick around to find out!

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 9 - 11 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 3] [Match Score: India 2 - 2 Romania]

ROMANIA WIN THE FOURTH MATCH! They have come from behind to take this tie into the decider. India were one game away from sealing it at a point.

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 9 - 10 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

SZOCS GETS CARRIED AWAY! The ball sat up nicely for her to deploy the forehand smash. But she hit it into the net.

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 8 - 10 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

Kamath cannot control it. Szcos deploys side spin and it is good for the Indian paddler.

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 8 - 9 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

AMAZING BACKHAND! Szocs exhibits great wrist work to pick up this point.

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 8 - 8 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

SZOCS CANNOT TAKE IT!!! Kamath sets it up brilliantly by increasing the pace with every subsequent shot.

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 6 - 8 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

WOW! Kamath makes it look easy. She fetches this from the deep forehand corner and gets the point.

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 5 - 7 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

We continue to go back and forth. Kamath misses the table twice.

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 3 - 5 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

SZOCS TAKES THIS! She pushes Kamath back with back to back forehands. Kamath blocked with the backhand but could not control it eventually.

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 2 - 3 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

BACK IN IT! Two consecutive points for Kamath. She hits this one to the deep forehand corner and gets the point.

Match 4, Game 4: Kamath 0 - 3 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

Pushes Kamath to the backhand corner and then smashes this to the forehand to pick the point. Kamath calls for a timeout.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 7 - 11 Szocs [Game Score 1-2] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

Szocs takes the game. Kamath needs to pull her socks up in the next set.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 6 - 10 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

Kamath makes another error. Misses the table on the backhand return.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 6 - 9 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

SZOCS ANSWERS! She shows that she has a powerful forehand too.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 6 - 8 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

GOT CARRIED AWAY! Hit that too hard. Missed the table by a mile.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 6 - 7 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

Now she takes a point with the backhand.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 5 - 7 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

BACK WITH THE POWERFUL FOREHAND!! Kamath keeps on fighting.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 4 - 7 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

KAMATH MAKES AN ERROR! She was trying to return with a backhand but missed the spin.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 3 - 6 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

KAMATH COMES BACK!!! Once again, forehand gets her the point.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 2 - 4 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

SZOCS STRIKES BACK! Backspin serve helps the Romanian pick the point.

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 2 - 2 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

WOW!! Powerful long returns off the backhand from Kamath. Sets the point up beautifully!

Match 4, Game 3: Kamath 1 - 2 Szocs [Game Score 1 - 1] [Match Score: India 2 - 1 Romania]

Once again! Short rallies and the match goes back and forth.

A game riddled with errors for Bernadette but they've been forced by Archana's aggressive play! It's all tied-up at 1 game apiece and Archana has clawed her way back into the match!