Manika Batra Leads India to Quarterfinals in Thrilling Table Tennis Victory Against Romania

Star table tennis player Manika Batra led India to a 3-2 victory over Romania, securing a place in the quarterfinals of the women's table tennis team competition at the Paris Olympics. India initially took a 2-0 lead, with Manika sealing the final win after Romania leveled the match at 2-2.

Star player Manika Batra led from the front as India prevailed over higher-ranked Romania 3-2 in a thrilling tie, making a memorable entry into the quarterfinals of the women's table tennis team competition at the Paris Olympics on Monday. Leading 2-0, India saw Romania fight back to draw level at 2-2, but in the decider, Manika delivered for her side.

Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath started the proceedings with an 11-9, 12-10, 11-7 win over Adina Diaconu and Elizabeta Samara in a doubles match. Manika made short work of higher-ranked Bernadette Szocs in an 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 victory, giving India a comfortable 2-0 lead in the tie against their fourth-seeded opponents. India are seeded 11th in the competition.

In the second singles match, however, things did not go in India's favor as Sreeja went down 2-3 (11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11) to European champion Samara after winning the first game. Sreeja's defeat paved the way for a face-off between Archana and Bernadette, with the latter winning the first game 11-5, but the Indian bagging the second 11-8 to restore parity. However, Bernadette won the next two games 11-7, 11-9 to clinch the match and send the tie to the decider. Manika then blanked Adina 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-9) to seal the tie in India's favor.

India will face either the USA or Germany in the quarterfinals. Japan, Poland, France, and Thailand are also on the same side of the draw. Last week, Manika and Sreeja made history by becoming the first Indian players to reach the round of 16 in the individual event at the Olympics, though they could not progress beyond that stage.