Table Tennis
Manika Batra achieves her career-best ranking, enters world's top 25
Indian paddler Manika Batra entered the world's top 25 after her giant-killing show at the Saudi Smash 2024.
Manika Batra is the first Indian women to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Smash tournament (Photo Credit: World Table Tennis)
Ace Indian paddler Manika Batra has achieved her career-best ranking and entered the top 25 in the latest ITTF rankings on Tuesday.
Manika jumped 15 places from her previous ranking of 39 to become world number 24. She also reclaimed her India number one place from Sreeja Akula.
The improvement in the ranking came after Manika’s solid display at the Saudi Smash 2024.
Manika defeated multiple higher-ranked players in the tournament. She stunned world number 2 Wang Manyu in the round of 32.
In the round of 16, Manika defeated world number 14 Nina Mittelham of Germany and recorded her first win against her.
Up against world no. 5 Hina Hayata of Japan in the quarterfinal, Manika lost 1-3 and bowed out of the tournament.
However, the performance was enough for Manika to secure India's number-one position and achieve her career-best ranking.
In women’s singles, Sreeja Akula dropped three places to be world number 41.
Achanta Sharath Kamal dropped three places to be ranked 40th in the men’s singles ranking. Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai are ranked 62nd and 63rd respectively.
In women’s doubles, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee moved one place up to world number 13.
