India’s top paddler Manika Batra saw her campaign at the WTT Contender Taiyuan come to an end on Friday after a straight-games loss to Japan’s Miu Hirano in the Round of 16.

Hirano, ranked World No. 36, dominated the contest from the outset, sealing a convincing 3-0 victory (11-9, 11-7, 11-8) in just over 26 minutes. Manika, currently World No. 49, struggled to find rhythm against the Japanese star’s aggressive play and precision, exiting the tournament without managing to take a single game.

Despite the defeat, Manika’s journey to the pre-quarterfinals included a significant highlight. In the previous round, she produced a spirited performance to defeat World No. 25 Miyuu Kihara in a gripping five-game battle. The Indian came through 3-2 (11-8, 10-12, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7) in a match that lasted 43 minutes.

Manika had started strongly in that encounter, comfortably taking the opening game and racing to a 6-2 lead in the second. However, Kihara mounted a comeback, saving two game points to level the match. The momentum appeared to shift further when the Japanese paddler surged from 8-10 down in the third game, but Manika held her nerve to clinch it and move ahead 2-1.

Kihara responded by edging a tightly contested fourth game, pushing the match into a decider. In the final game, Manika showcased composure under pressure. After being level at 3-3, she took control of the rallies and converted her first match point, securing her maiden victory over Kihara in their third meeting.

While her run ended short of the quarterfinals, Manika’s win over a higher-ranked opponent underlined her fighting spirit and ability to compete at the top level. The loss to Hirano, however, highlighted the challenge of maintaining consistency against elite opposition.

As the Indian paddler looks ahead to upcoming tournaments, her performance in Taiyuan offers both encouragement and areas for improvement against some of the world’s best.