How did Manika Batra perform at Tokyo Olympics? A detailed look at the Indian table tennis star's performance at the previous Olympic Games

Manika Batra, India's leading table tennis player, currently holds the position of world number 24 in the ITTF rankings as of May 2024. She contested in the women's singles and mixed doubles event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Unfortunately, her campaign ended with a defeat in straight games against Sofia Polcanova of Austria in the third round. Before this defeat, she suffered defeat in the mixed doubles with Sharath Kamal.

In the event held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Polcanova ousted Batra with scores of 11-8, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7. The Indian had registered her first singles victory at the Summer Games against Tin-Tin Ho and then defeated Margaryta Pesotska in the second.

Nevertheless, she failed to maintain her momentum against Polcanova in the following round.

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A detailed look at Manika Batra vs Sofia Polcanova

In the singles match, Batra delivered some effective backhand exchanges, but Polcanova employed her shots at sharp angles and registered a narrow win in the first game.

The Austrian continued to showcase her dominance in the second game, eventually securing the win. Remarkably, the Indian attempted to bounce back in the third game but struggled with excessive power on several shots of the opponent.

Polcanova further denied Manika Batra taking any advantage in the game. With Batra making continued errors, the Austrian successfully clinched the third round.

Despite a lackluster performance against Polcanova, Manika Batra made history by advancing to the third round of the women's singles event, becoming the first Indian paddler to reach this stage in an Olympic.

Batra, hailing from Delhi, has won gold medals in the women's team, women's doubles, and mixed doubles, along with a silver medal in the women's singles event in the 2016 South Asian Games.

She has previously showcased her prowess in the Commonwealth Games as well, winning gold medals in the women's singles and women's team events at the 2018 edition.