India’s table tennis star Manika Batra said it was great to win a medal at the 18th Asian Games. The 23-year-old became the first Indian woman to win a table tennis medal at Asiad. Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal Achanta clinched a bronze in the mixed doubles event.
This was my second Asian games, it was a great feeling to bring a medal back because no one expected it, especially in mixed doubles. I am happy that I am the first Indian woman to win a medal in TT at the Asian games.Manika Batra
Batra expressed that she and her partner Achanta didn’t practice much before the competition.
The combination of me and Sharat was pretty decent in mixed doubles, we did not practise much before the tournament. We both gave our best and clinched a bronze at the Asian games.Batra
Batra added that she knew that the women’s singles event was going to be difficult.
“After I saw my singles draw I knew that my pre-quarter finals was against China’s Manyu Wang and I knew that it was going to be difficult because I had played against her before in the World Championships. I believed that I could beat her. It was a tough match, so it’s okay, I will work harder next time. My next goal is Olympics and I will prepare well.”
When asked about the road ahead and about the support she received from home, she stated, “I will give credit to all who have supported me, my school coach especially (Sandeep sir), my mom, my family. If I wouldn’t have been supported by SAI, the government and my workplace Indian Oil, this wouldn’t have been possible. They all have motivated me as a player.”
She further added that her next challenge is the Olympics, “I will train for Olympics, work on my fitness, compared to them I am not that great in reflex and agility and I will try to improve on that.”
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