Manika Batra Makes History: First Indian to Reach Olympic Table Tennis Round of 16

Manika Batra became the first Indian table tennis player to advance to the round of 16 in the Olympics singles competition. She achieved this milestone after defeating higher-ranked Prithika Pavade of France 4-0. Batra, a gold medalist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, has made history once again.

Table tennis star Manika Batra made history on Monday by becoming the first Indian player to reach the round of 16 in the Olympic Games singles competition. Batra defeated higher-ranked Prithika Pavade from France in a decisive 4-0 match.

At 29 years old, Batra, who clinched gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, won with scores of 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, and 11-7. Her 19-year-old opponent Pavade's journey included a familial connection to India, as her parents originally hailed from Puducherry before moving to France in 2003.

In the Tokyo Olympics, Batra became the first Indian women's table tennis player to reach the round of 32 in singles. She has now surpassed that achievement. Ranked 28th in the world, Batra is currently 10 places lower than Pavade. Achanta Sharath Kamal had also reached the round of 32 in men's singles during the Tokyo Olympics.

(With inputs from agencies.)