Indian players made a b start at the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships, bringing glory to the nation. Manika Batra and Manav Thakkar secured victories in their respective matches, advancing to the second round.
Sports News: India's star table tennis player, Manika Batra, secured her place in the second round of the World Championships in Doha on May 18th with a straight-game victory. The 22nd seed defeated Fatima Bello of Nigeria 4-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-8, 11-2) in a dominant women's singles match that lasted only 24 minutes. Manika will now face Park Ga-Hyeon of Korea in the last 64. Meanwhile, Manav Thakkar also began his singles campaign confidently.
Manika Batra's Impressive Performance
In the women's singles, 22nd seed Manika Batra defeated Fatima Bello of Nigeria 4-0 in her opening match. The match concluded in just 24 minutes, showcasing her b and consistent gameplay. The game scores were 11-5, 11-6, 11-8, and 11-2. Manika's victory underlines her status as a formidable player, not just for India but on the world stage. She will next face the formidable Park Ga-Hyeon of Korea in a challenging encounter.
Manika's confident performance demonstrates her dedication to continuous improvement in fitness and technique. Her success in the tournament will inspire young players.
Manav Thakkar's Winning Start
In the men's singles, India's top seed, Manav Thakkar, began his campaign with a 4-1 victory over Timothy Choi of New Zealand. The match was highly competitive, with game scores of 11-3, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, and 14-12. Significantly, Manav made a b comeback in the fifth and deciding game to secure the win. This victory will boost his confidence as he faces even more challenging opponents in the coming rounds.
Manav Thakkar's victory is crucial for the bright future of Indian table tennis. His young age and hard work hold the potential for significant results for Indian table tennis.
Performance of Other Indian Players
18-year-old Ankur Bhattacharya's journey was shorter this time, as he lost to Lam Siu Hang of Hong Kong. This experience will be valuable for Ankur Bhattacharya, helping him perform better in future tournaments. In the doubles, 9th seeds Manush Shah and Diya Chitale performed well, defeating an Algerian pair 3-0 (11-2, 11-7, 11-6) in their first match. This win is encouraging for the Indian doubles team.
However, the men's doubles pair of Harmeet Desai and G. Sathiyan lost to an Austrian-Moldovan pair 1-3. Additionally, Harmeet Desai, partnering with Yashaswini Gorpade in mixed doubles, put up a b fight but lost 2-3 to a French pair.
