Manika Batra. Photo/Getty Images
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Wiser after her first appearance at the Tokyo Olympics, Indian table tennis star Manika Batra said on Monday that she is focused on taking one match at a time at the upcoming Paris Games and a medal will not be on her mind in the initial rounds. Batra, who is preparing for the Paris Olympics along with her teammates, said she has learnt from her experience at the Tokyo Games.
“I have learnt a lot from the last Olympics and I am not going to repeat those mistakes. My mindset has changed since then, I am calmer and more confident in myself,” Batra said during an interview with Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT).
“I have been working on my stamina and agility and my ultimate aim is to challenge for a medal. But I will take it slow. I will try to be in that zone and give my best. I will take it round by round and not think of a medal too soon. I will give my best for my country,” added Batra, who represents PBG Bengaluru Smashers in UTT. Batra was instrumental in the women’s team qualifying for the Paris Olympics, a first for Indian table tennis.
Batra also reached the quarter-finals of the WTT Saudi Smash tournament in May, where she defeated world No. 2 and former world champion Wang Manyu of China and world No. 14 Nina Mittelham of Germany. “India has qualified for the first time (for the Olympics), it is a great achievement. I am very happy with the way we are working together (in the camp). I think we have a chance to win the medal and we should give our best,” Batra said. “The growth of women’s table tennis in India is really inspiring,” she said.
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