Manika Batra Crashes Out of WTT Champions in Quarterfinals

Indian table tennis star Manika Batra’s historic run at the WTT Champions Montpellier 2024 came to an end in the quarterfinals after a straight-game defeat to China’s Qian Tianyi. Batra, ranked World No. 30, lost 8-11, 8-11, 10-12 to the World No. 21 Qian, concluding her memorable campaign.

Manika Batra’s Impressive Run

Batra’s journey at the WTT Champions began with a convincing 3-0 victory over USA’s Lily Zhang (11-4, 11-8, 12-10). She then stunned eighth-seeded Bernadette Szocs of Romania in a thrilling 3-1 match (11-9, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9). This win not only secured Batra’s spot in the quarterfinals but also added to her list of victories against Szocs, whom she had previously defeated during India’s 3-2 pre-quarterfinal win over Romania at the Paris Olympics.

The Quarterfinal Match

In the quarterfinal match, Batra faced Qian Tianyi, who had already caused a significant upset by defeating compatriot and World No. 3 Wang Yidi in the pre-quarterfinals. Unlike her composed performance against Szocs, Batra seemed unsettled against the aggressive Qian. Her usually reliable defence faltered, and her blocking shots lacked their usual sharpness, making it difficult to counter Qian’s powerful smashes. Qian capitalized on these weaknesses, winning the match in just three games.

Batra’s achievement of reaching the quarterfinals marks a milestone for Indian table tennis, as she became the first Indian paddler to reach this stage in a WTT Champions event. Despite the defeat, Batra’s performance has set a new benchmark for Indian table tennis and showcased her potential on the international stage.

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