Table Tennis
'Career-best ranking is potent boost for Olympics preparation': Manika Batra
Ace Indian paddler Manika Batra broke into the top world 25 with a brilliant display at the Saudi Smash 2024.
FILE PHOTO: Manika Batra in action at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.
Indian table tennis star Manika Batra said her rise to the top 25 of world rankings is a 'potent boost' to her preparations for the Paris Olympics.
Manika created history on Tuesday by becoming the first-ever Indian women's singles player to enter the top 25 in the latest ITTF rankings.
The 28-year-old jumped 15 places and is currently ranked 24th.
“It is indeed a very proud moment for me. To break into the top 25 and achieve my career-best ranking just months before the Olympic Games is a very potent boost to my preparations. I am truly honoured to have achieved this feat and it is incredibly fulfilling to see all my hard work and efforts pay off," Manika told the media after her surge in the world ranking.
Manika has also reclaimed the Indian number-one spot from Sreeja Akula, who surpassed the former in April as the highest-ranked Indian women's player.
"As I look ahead to Paris 2024, I am motivated more than ever to continue this performance and move upward in the ranking to make my country proud. I really want to thank God for the blessings that helped me to give my best performance at the highest level. Improvement is a continuous process and I am committed to it," added Manika.
Manika's latest surge in the rankings came on the back of her dominant performance of the Saudi Smash. She defeated world number 2 Wang Manyu in the round of 32 and went on to beat world number 14 Nina Mittelham in the next round.
She was knocked out by world number 5 Hina Hayata of Japan in the quarterfinals.
