Paris 2024 Olympics table tennis: Manika Batra stuns local favourite Prithika Pavade to storm into pre-quarterfinals

India’s Manika Batra advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympics table tennis women’s singles event after upsetting France’s Prithika Pavade in the round of 32 on Monday.

Manika Batra, ranked 28th in the world, beat world No. 18 Pavade 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7) in the South Paris Arena 4 in the French capital.

"It was the best match, playing against a French player in France and winning was amazing," Manika said. "I’m really happy that I won against Prithika because she has a higher rank than me… I was well prepared to play with her."

The first game saw the two players go toe-to-toe and the score read 8-8 before Manika stepped up to take the lead. Riding the momentum, the Indian went on to take the second game comfortably before racing to a 10-4 lead in the third.

Pavade, 19, managed to save five game points but Batra took a breather and came back to extend her lead to 3-0. An exhibition of lethal backhands saw Manika close out the match without any hitch.

The Indian table tennis player will face either Hong Kong China’s Zhu Chengzhu or eighth-seeded Japanese player Miu Hirano next.

Earlier, Manika had defeated world No. 103 Anna Hursey of Great Britain 4-1 to progress to the round of 32.

Olympic debutant Sreeja Akula will look to join compatriot Manika in the round of 16 on Wednesday.

Having blanked Sweden’s world No. 58 Christina Kallberg of Sweden 4-0 in the round of 64, the 25th-ranked Akula is scheduled to play Zeng Jian of Singapore in the round of 32 on Monday.

India’s campaign in the men’s singles ended early after Sharath Kamal and Harmeet Desai’s exit in the round of 16 on Sunday.

India will also be part of the team competitions at Paris 2024. The Indian men’s team, featuring Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar, face a daunting task against four-time champions the People’s Republic China in the first round.

The women’s team, comprising Manika, Sreeja and Archana Kamath, meanwhile, has been drawn to play Romania in the first match.