Indian table tennis stars Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula have made a strong start at the ITTF World Cup 2024, held at Macao’s Galaxy Arena. Both players secured impressive victories in their opening matches, setting a positive tone for their campaign.
ITTF World Cup: Sreeja Akula’s domination in the first game
Sreeja Akula, ranked 39th in the world, dominated her first match against Natalia Bajor of Poland, who is ranked 52nd. Despite a slow start and a few errors in the first game, Sreeja quickly found her rhythm and took command of the rallies. She won the match 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5) in just half an hour.
Her powerful forward smashes and superior control and precision on the table left Bajor struggling to keep up. Sreeja’s convincing victory demonstrated her confidence and determination, laying the groundwork for her upcoming match against world number four Chen Meng of China.
ITTF World Cup: Manika Batra’s impressive comeback
Meanwhile, Manika Batra faced a more challenging opponent in her first match, Romania’s Adina Diaconu, ranked 46th in the world. After losing the first game, Manika showed tenacity and aggression, clawing her way back into the match to win 3-1. She overcame Diaconu’s strong smashes by effectively utilising her reach and hitting accurate, wide shots on the table.
Despite both players making mistakes in the final game, Manika kept her cool to secure the victory. She is now preparing to face world number two Wang Manyu of China in her final group game.
India's top player #ManikaBatra defeated #AdinaDicanou of Romania, 3-1, while #SreejaAkula beat #NataliaBajor of Poland in straight games, 4-0.
In their next group matches, Batra is scheduled to face World number 2, Manyu Wang of China tomorrow. Sreeja… pic.twitter.com/tfxh7TQQoG
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) April 16, 2024
The victories of Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula mark a strong start to their ITTF World Cup campaign, which comes ahead of the Paris Olympics. With their impressive performances in the opening matches, both players demonstrated their readiness to compete against top-ranked opponents and achieve international success.
They are now preparing for their upcoming matches at the ITTF World Cup, where they will face formidable opponents. With their sights set on securing victories and progressing through the rounds, the Indian paddlers are determined to leave their mark and proudly represent their country on the global stage.
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