The 29-year-old, who clinched gold on the 2018 Commonwealth Video games, secured a commanding 4-Zero victory in opposition to the higher-ranked French participant Prithika Pavade in Paris.
Manika recorded 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 victory in opposition to her 19-year-opponent Pavade whose dad and mom had been initially from Puducherry earlier than shifting to France in 2003.
By advancing additional than the spherical of 32, Manika has set a brand new benchmark for Indian girls’s desk tennis on the Olympic degree.
Achanta Sharath Kamal had additionally reached the spherical of 32 in males’s singles within the Tokyo Olympics.
Regardless of being ranked 28th on the earth, 10 positions beneath her opponent Pavade, Manika showcased her expertise and willpower to safe a spot within the subsequent spherical.
Manika surpassed her earlier finest efficiency from the Tokyo Olympics, the place she turned the primary Indian lady to succeed in the spherical of 32 in singles competitors.
Prithika, a left-handed participant, entered the Olympics following a powerful efficiency, which included reaching the WTT ultimate for the primary time in her profession in June. Nevertheless, she struggled to beat Manika, who delivered a dominant show all through the match.
The opening recreation was carefully contested, with each gamers matching one another level for level. With the rating tied at 8-8, Manika compelled a backhand error from her youthful opponent and sealed the sport with a strong forehand drive that proved an excessive amount of for Prithika to deal with.
Manika maintained her dominance within the second recreation, shortly establishing a 3-1 benefit. Prithika, decided to remain within the match, battled again to even the rating by forcing Manika into making errors.
Nevertheless, Manika’s technique of focusing on Prithika’s backhand proved efficient, constantly incomes her factors. Swiftly, Manika discovered herself main 9-6. A collection of backhand errors from Prithika sealed the deal, permitting Manika to safe the second recreation.
Manika dominated the third recreation, shortly establishing a commanding 3-Zero lead as Prithika grappled together with her returns, failing to search out her rhythm.
Decided to mount a comeback, Prithika unleashed a strong forehand winner to safe her first level of the sport. Nevertheless, Manika maintained her stranglehold on the match, extending her benefit to 5-1.
The Indian strategically focused Prithika’s backhand, exploiting her weak spot and additional solidifying her place at 8-4.
Prithika, who was behind 5-10, managed to make the sport aggressive by securing 4 consecutive factors. Nevertheless, Manika required only a single level to seal the sport.
Sadly for the native favourite, she dedicated an error by hitting a backhand drive into the online, handing the sport and a commanding 3-Zero result in the Indian paddler.
Within the fourth recreation, Manika’s highly effective forehand helped her set up a 10-5 benefit, placing her able to assert the match with 5 alternatives.
On the third match level, Prithika faltered, sending her backhand shot into the online, permitting Manika to clinch the victory in simply 37 minutes.
