Manika Batra is on a dream run at the Saudi Smash. After stunning world No. 2 Wang Manyu in the second round, the Indian table tennis star has eliminated world number 14 Nina Mittelham of Germany to progress to the quarterfinals of the event, in Jeddah on Wednesday, May 9, 2024. (More Sports News)
This is Manika's first victory over Mittelham in four clashes. She won 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 in 22 minutes to seal her last-eight berth and will next face world No. 5 Hina Hayata of Japan in the quarter-finals.
Before shocking China's Wang 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 on Monday, Manika had prevailed over Romania's Andreea Dragoman in the first round, winning 11-6, 13-11, 11-8.
Manika was earlier upstaged by Sreeja Akula as the top-ranked Indian women's singles table tennis player (Sreeja at number 38, Manika 39), but the the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist is likely to regain the numero uno throne in the country after her phenomenal display in Jeddah.
