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Olympics: Manika Batra powers India women's team into table-tennis quarter-final
Indian star Manika Batra excelled under pressure, leading the women's table tennis team to a 3-2 victory over Romania and securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Batra's exceptional performance, including two crucial wins, was instrumental in overcoming a determined Romanian side. India took a 2-0 lead after Sreeja Akula-Archana Kamath and Manika Batra won the first two matches of the tie. owever, Romania won the next two and forced a decider. Batra beat Adina Diaconu 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 in the fifth match to seal the tie. India will face the USA or Germany in the women’s team table tennis quarter-final.
The competition began with a solid start for India as Archana Kamath and Sreeja Akula paired up to take on Romania's Adina Diaconu and Elizabeta Samara. The Indian duo displayed great synergy, winning the match in straight sets with scores of 11-9, 12-10, 11-7. This victory gave India an early 1-0 lead. Next, India's star player, Manika Batra, faced off against Romania's Bernadette Szocs. Batra dominated the match, winning convincingly with scores of 11-5, 11-7, 11-7. Her commanding performance extended India's lead to 2-0, putting the team in a strong position.
However, the tie took a turn as Akula engaged in a hard-fought battle with Samara. Despite a valiant effort, Akula narrowly lost the five-game thriller, with scores of 8-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8. This win for Romania kept them in the contest, narrowing India's lead to 2-1. Romania's momentum continued with Szocs returning to the table to face Kamath. In a closely contested match, Szocs emerged victorious, defeating Kamath 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9. This result leveled the scores at 2-2, setting the stage for a decisive final match. Despite the setback, India's team remained focused and determined. Their resilience and skill were key to advancing to the quarter-finals, showcasing their potential for further success in the tournament.
