Indian table tennis star Manika Batra is preparing for the Paris Olympics with a new strategy: she is focusing on one match at a time to avoid the mistakes she made during the Tokyo Games. In an interview with Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), Batra stressed that she has learned from her first Olympic appearance and is determined not to repeat those mistakes.
Batra has been working on his stamina and agility, with the ultimate goal of fighting for a medal. However, he plans to approach the competition gradually, round by round and without thinking too soon about a medal. His main goal is to do his best for his country.
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Batra played a crucial role in the qualification of the Indian women’s table tennis team for the Paris Olympics, a historic milestone for the country. She also achieved significant success at the WTT Saudi Smash in May, reaching the quarter-finals by defeating world No. 2 Wang Manyu of China and world No. 14 Nina Mittelham of Germany.
The growth of women’s table tennis in India has been inspiring, with many young players performing well. Batra credits the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) platform for providing opportunities for Indian players to practice and compete against foreign stars, which has greatly improved their match play.
After the Paris Olympics, top Indian paddlers including Batra, Sharath Kamal, Sreeja Akula and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran will be taking part in the UTT 2024, scheduled to be held in Chennai from August 22 to September 7. The event will feature world-class players like World No.10 Bernadette Szocs and Nigerian legend Quadri Aruna.
Batra’s determination to learn from her past experiences and her confidence in her abilities make her a strong contender for success at the Paris Olympics.
