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After a decent campaign in the women’s singles competition in table tennis, Indian stars Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula returned to action in the women’s team event at the South Paris Arena in Paris Olympics 2024. The Indian team, consisting of Batra, Akula and Archana Kamath was set up against Romania to begin their campaign in the round of 16 clash.
Facing a tough side, who are fourth-seeded at the Summer Games, began with the Indian pair of Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath completely dominating over the Romanian pair of Elizabeta Samara and Adina Diaconu. In game one, Indian dominated with a 11-9 scoreline, followed by a closely fought second game which finished in the 11th seeded pair’s favour 12-10. The Indian contingent took a 1-0 lead after Sreeja-Archana pair claimed the third game 11-7.
This win was followed by Manika Batra taking the court against Romania’s Bernadette Szocs in a singles match. Although the Indian trailed 1-4 in the opening game, but eventually kept her calm to make a comeback and register a win 11-5. She continued her powerful shot, sealing the second game by a margin of 11-7. The 29-year-old completed hat-trick of wins as she took down Szocs 11-7 in the final game to help India take a 2-0 lead.
After taking a 2-0 lead, Sreeja Akula took the centre once again as they neared their quarterfinals berth. Akula won the first game 11-8 against Romania’s Elizabeta Samara. The Indian however was on a backfoot from the start in the second game and went on to lose 4-11, before taking the third game 11-7 against the Romanian opponent. But Samara made a comeback in the fourth game, registering an easy win by 11-6 margin to take the game into the deciding set, which she won again to help Romania return in the game.
With India eyeing a quarterfinal spot, Archana Girish Kamath took on Romania’s Bernadette Szocs in match four. The Indian shuttler did not get the start as she went down 11-5 in Game 1 but came back strongly, registering a win Game 2 by 11-8 margin. Bernadette kept Romania in the game as she took Game 3 by 11-7 margin and closed the game with a 11-9 win against Archana.
After the game being tied 2-2, it all came down to Manika Batra setting up the final clash against Romania’s Diaconu in match number five. The top-ranked Indian took the first game 11-5, she rattled her Romanian opponent 11-9 in a neck-and-neck game two. Batra continued her dominant run as she took down Diaconu 11-9 in the Game 3 to help India move into the quarterfinals.
After the conclusion of the men’s and women’s singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the men’s and women’s team medal events are scheduled to be held on August 9 and 10, respectively.
