India's women's table tennis team, led by Manika Batra, secured a 3-2 victory over Romania to advance to the quarterfinals of the women's team event at the Paris Olympics. Manika's leadership and performance were crucial in the match, which drew India's win. The team will now face either the USA or Germany in the quarterfinals. Manika and Sreeja made history as the first Indian players to reach the round of 16 in the individual event.
Indian duo Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath defeated Adina Diaconu and Elizabeta Samara in the opening doubles match with scores of 11-9, 12-10, 11-7. Manika Batra defeated Bernadette Szocs in the singles matches with 11-5, 11-7, 11-7. However, Sreeja Akula lost to Elizabeta Samara 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11. Archana Kamath defeated Bernadette in two games, leveling the tie, while Manika dominated Adina, winning 3-0 in India's favor.
Despite facing talented players, Manika's decisive performance in the table tennis match showcased her leadership and skill, propelling India's team forward in the competition. She is a top-ranked Indian tennis player who secured four medals at the Commonwealth Games 2018 and a bronze medal at the Asian Games. She received India's highest sporting honor in 2020 and is currently ranked 28th in the world. Manika's unique playing style is a testament to her talent.
