Manika Batra's 2025 mantra: Medal at worlds and top-10 ranking

India’s star paddler Manika Batra, who bid adieu to a stellar 2024 filled with many firsts for Indian table tennis, has set ambitious goals for 2025: winning a medal at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha and breaking into the Top 10 of the world rankings.

As she embarks on a new season in 2025, Manika not only seeks upset wins but also aims to win medals in marquee events.

'I want to be in the top 10'

"We have World Championships next year, so I am working hard for that because I want to win a medal there. Of course, losing and winning are part of every athlete's life. But, I will prepare and work hard for that. And of course, I want to be in the top 10 next year," Manika told The Bridge.

Manika's performance this year was noteworthy, underlined by her historic run at the Paris Olympics, where she became the first Indian paddler to reach the Round of 16 in women’s singles.

Reflecting on her achievements in 2024, the 29-year-old said, "2024 was the best year of my career because it was the year of the Olympics. In Paris, I played really well, and my performance was very good."

"In singles, I reached the Round of 16, and in the team event, I played in the quarterfinals. Overall, this Olympics was a great for me, both on and off the court. The preparation I did before the Olympics was intense, and I dedicated myself fully to it," she continued.

She also achieved another milestone in October in France, becoming the first Indian to reach the quarterfinals of a WTT Champions event in Montpellier.

These feats marked a remarkable turnaround for Manika, especially after a patchy year of 2023, when she slipped to World No. 40 due to a dip in form.

Even the start of 2024 was not very promising, as Sreeja Akula dethroned her as India’s No. 1 women’s singles player in April.

However, Manika roared back to form with several stunning victories.

At the WTT Saudi Smash, she shocked World No. 2 and former world champion Wang Manyu of China to reach the pre-quarterfinals.

Her giant-killing instincts were on full display as she defeated World No. 14 Nina Mittelham of Germany in straight games.

At the Paris Olympics, she toppled then World No. 18 Prithika Pavade of France in straight sets (11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7) in the Round of 32.

Despite her success, Manika is far from complacent. She remains focused on achieving bigger goals.

"It was a really good year for me because I defeated World No. 2 Manyu and many other higher-ranked players. But I am not satisfied because athletes cannot be satisfied. However, I am really happy and proud of how the year panned out for me. Now, I am looking forward to doing even better in 2025," she said.

Aspiring for perfection

Manika is determined to refine her game and achieve perfection.

"When the Olympics ended, I learned many things from that tournament. I have been working with my coach on my mistakes. Personally, I want 2025 to be perfect because, on the court, I want to see the things I practice come to fruition," she stated.

Manika's imposing 1.8m frame has often been seen as a gift that gives her an edge over her rivals.

That said, she offerd a more nuanced perspective.

"When you are tall in table tennis, you have to bend more, which sometimes causes back injuries. But I take great care of my back and knees because of this. The advantage of being tall is a wider reach, thanks to long limbs and legs. However, to excel in reach, you need specific exercises like agility and strength training to strengthen your knees. So, it is a combination of advantages and disadvantages," she explained.

Manika’s rise mirrored the broader success of Indian table tennis in 2024.

In a landmark achievement, the Indian women’s team knocked out Paris Olympics bronze medallists South Korea in the quarterfinals of the Asian Championships, winning their first-ever medal.

Making the moment ever sweeter, Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee clinched a historic bronze medal in women’s doubles, marking India’s first medal in the discipline.

Proud of the sport's growth in India, Manika said, "Table tennis in India has grown by leaps and bounds. Our young generation has done well, and Indian youths are excelling internationally. I am really happy because my aim has been to elevate the sport to a level where people know about it, and that is happening. We are also receiving support from the government, sports ministry, and sponsors, which is very encouraging."