Indian table-tennis star Manika Batra pulled off a sensational victory on Saturday, defeating world No. 12 Shi Xunyao of China 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9 in 37 minutes to reach the women’s singles quarter-finals of the US $300,000 WTT Star Contender in London. The 43rd-ranked 16th seed overcame the fourth seed with verve and composure.
Batra, born on 15 June 1995 in Delhi, first picked up a racket at the age of four and has steadily risen through the international ranks. She clinched gold medals in the 2016 South Asian Games and dazzled at the 2018 Commonwealth Games where she became the first Indian woman to win the singles title.
Known for her all-round game and long-pimple rubber defence, she has also represented India at two Olympic Games and earned India’s highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna, in 2020.
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In London, Batra will next face either fourth-seeded Shin Yubin of Korea or ninth-seeded Cheng I‑Ching of Chinese Taipei with a place in the semifinals up for grabs.
Against Shi, Batra dictated the pace early, racing through the first two games with precision and poise. After dropping the third, she bounced back in the fourth to seal a major scalp and make a statement in her pursuit of global success.
Her next opponent represents a fresh challenge, but having delivered this electric performance, Batra has firmly signalled that she cannot be written off at the major level.
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