Sreeja Akula's Stunning Pre-Quarterfinal Entry at Paris Olympics

Sreeja Akula advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the women's singles table tennis event at the Paris Olympics with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Singapore's Jian Zeng. Celebrating her 26th birthday, Sreeja joined fellow Indian Manika Batra in achieving this historic feat at the Games.

Sreeja Akula marked her 26th birthday with a significant victory, moving into the pre-quarterfinals of the women's singles table tennis competition at the Paris Olympics. She scored a 4-2 win over Singapore’s Jian Zeng in the round of 32 on Wednesday.

In a match lasting 51 minutes, Akula overcame an initial setback by losing the first game but rallied impressively to claim victory. She won the match with scores of 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5, 10-12, and 12-10.

Joining fellow Indian Manika Batra in the pre-quarterfinals, Akula's latest triumph underscores her growing stature in the sport, further solidified by her recent rise to a career-high world ranking of No. 24.