On Monday, Manika Batra etched her name in history by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to reach the singles pre-quarterfinals at the Olympic Games. The 29-year-old showcased a masterclass performance, defeating world number 18 and home favorite Prithika Pavade 4-0 in Paris. This remarkable victory came with game scores of 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, and 11-7, marking one of the most memorable matches for Indian table tennis at the Olympics.
Manika’s victory over the higher-ranked French player, Prithika Pavade, who has Indian roots, is a significant achievement. Reflecting on her win, Manika expressed her happiness, saying, “I am happy that I beat a French player in Paris. I defeated a higher-ranked player. I did not think of creating history and making the pre-quarters, there are more rounds, I will take it match by match and give my best as I always do.”
Manika’s strategy of targeting Pavade’s backhand proved effective, even though she initially planned to attack the forehand. “I had planned to play to her forehand as discussed with my coach, but I was getting the points on her backhand, so I did not change the tactics. I did play a few shots on her forehand too; I did not want her to think that I am playing only on her backhand,” she explained.
Prithika Pavade, 19, who was born in a Paris suburb to parents originally from Puducherry, had a commendable journey leading up to the Olympics. Ranked 18th in the world, Pavade had recently made her first WTT final appearance in June. However, she could not overcome Manika’s formidable challenge in this match.
The first game was closely contested, with both players exchanging points until Manika sealed it with a powerful forehand. She then dominated the second game, capitalizing on Pavade’s backhand errors. Despite Pavade’s efforts to stage a comeback, Manika’s relentless attacks on the backhand side secured her the third game and a comfortable 3-0 lead.
In the final game, Manika raced to a 10-5 lead, eventually winning the match when Pavade netted her backhand, concluding the game in 37 minutes. This victory not only marks a significant milestone for Manika Batra but also represents a proud moment for Indian table tennis on the global stage.
