In a momentous milestone for Indian table tennis, Manika Batra has climbed to a career-high world ranking of 24, according to the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings released on Tuesday. This remarkable achievement makes her the first Indian woman to enter the top 25 bracket in table tennis history.
The 28-year-old’s rise in the rankings is a result of her exceptional performance at the Saudi Smash 2024 tournament, where she made significant advances against some of the world’s top players. Batra’s journey at the tournament was marked by a series of upsets, starting with a major victory over World No.2 Wang Manyu of China in the round of 32. This win set the stage for her continued success, as she went on to defeat World No.14 Nina Mittelham of Germany in the pre-quarterfinals, marking her first-ever victory against the German veteran.
Although her impressive run was stopped in the quarterfinals by Japan’s World No.5 Hina Hayata, Batra’s performances were enough to catapult her into the elite top 25, a ranking bracket that no other Indian woman has previously reached. Her ascent to the 24th position matches the highest-ever ranking achieved by an Indian in singles, a record set by G Sathiyan in 2019.
In addition to her singles success, Batra has reclaimed her position as India’s No.1 woman paddler, surpassing Sreeja Akula, who now ranks 41st globally.
The Indian contingent has seen varied results in other categories as well. Veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal continues to be a formidable presence, albeit dropping to World No.40 in the men’s singles. Meanwhile, young talents Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai have held their ground, maintaining their positions within the top 65 worldwide.
The doubles events also highlighted some positive movements for the Indian team. Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee climbed one spot to 13th in the women’s doubles rankings. However, Thakkar and Manush Shah experienced a slight drop, slipping three places to 15th in men’s doubles. Additionally, the mixed doubles pair of Batra and Sathiyan fell one place to 24th.
Nevertheless, Batra’s historic rise in the ITTF rankings is a testament to her skill, determination, and the growing prowess of Indian table tennis on the global stage. As she continues to challenge the world’s best, her achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes across the nation.
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