Manika Batra loses in Saudi Smash quarterfinals

Indian paddler Manika Batra’s memorable run at the WTT Saudi Smash 2024 ended in the quarterfinals on Thursday. India’s second-best table tennis player lost to World No. 5 Hina Hayata 1-4 (11-7, 6-11, 4-11, 11-13, 2-11).

The 28-year-old, ranked 39 in the world, set the tone right when she won the first game 11-7 and gave hopes of sailing through to the semifinals. However, the Japanese drew level when she swiftly pocketed the second game. Hayata dominated the third game and even before the Indian could come up with a counter-attack, the Japanese drew up a huge lead and closed the game in her favour.

Manika showed stiff resistance in the fourth game as the players went neck-to-neck. The Indian opened up a slender lead at 8-6 and even had a game point at 11-10. However, Hayata did not give anything away to put Manika on the backfoot and won three points in a row to win the fourth game.

The fifth game was just a mere formality as the World No. 5 breezed through the game to close the tie in her favour, in just under 40 minutes.

Manika started the WTT Saudi Smash with a 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-8) win over Romania’s Andreea Dragoman.

She got the best out of her in the second round when she accounted for Wang Manyu, ranked second in the world, 3-1 (6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10).

She went from strength to strength and beat World No. 14 Nina Mittelham of Germany 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-7) in the round-of-16.

She, however, unfortunately couldn’t go past Japan’s Hayta in the quarterfinals to end a memorable run in Saudi Arabia.

The Delhi-based paddler, who is now ranked second in India behind Sreeja Akula, will claim the top spot as India’s best paddler, following the dream run, when the latest rankings are released. Given the performance Manika has dished, she could even become the first Indian paddler to breach the top-25 in the world rankings.