Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Archana Kamath Paris Olympics 2024, Table Tennis: Know Your Olympians – News18

Manika Batra, the world number 28, is set to face Welsh teenager Anna Hursey in her opening round of the singles event. She will also team up alongside Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath for the team competition. Speaking of Sreeja Akula, the 25-year-old is set to make her debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She will also be competing in the singles and team events. Apart from being a two-time national champion, she has also represented India in several international tournaments including the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Completing the trio is a 24-year-old Archana Kamath who will also be making her debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics games. She will represent India in only the table tennis team event in France. She recently took the WTT Star Contender Goa by storm earlier this year and will be looking to get her hands on a piece of silverware at the sporting extravaganza.

Age: Manika Batra – 29, Sreeja Akula – 25, Archana Kamath – 24

Sports/Discipline – Table tennis

World Ranking: Manika Batra – 28, Sreeja Akula – 25, Archana Kamath – 123 (all rankings as per WTT)

First Olympic Games

• Manika Batra – 2016 Rio Olympics
• Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath – 2024 Paris Olympics

Major Achievements

Manika Batra

2018 Asian Games: Bronze (mixed doubles)

2019 Commonwealth Games: 2x Gold (women’s team and singles)

2016 South Asian Games: 3x Gold (women’s team, doubles and mixed doubles)

Sreeja Akula

2022 Commonwealth Games: Gold (mixed doubles)

2019 South Asian Games: Gold (women’s doubles and team)

Archana Kamath

2023 National Games of India: Gold (women’s singles)

Paris Olympics Qualification

Manika Batra was seeded 18th to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sreeja Akula secured her place at the sporting extravaganza having seeded 16th place. Since the introduction of team events in Table Tennis at the Olympics in 2008, India qualified for the first time in the table tennis team event. The women’s team will face Romania in their first-ever official match in the said event.

Recent Performances

Manika Batra has been in stellar form throughout 2024. She rose to a career-high rank of 24 at the Saudi Smash 2024, while also regaining the number 1 spot in India. On April 23, Sreeja Akula jumped to a world ranking of 38 while also becoming the first Indian paddler to win a WTT Contender Single’s title. Archana Kamath was also in brimming form at the WTT Star Contender Goa held earlier this year. She upset Spain’s top-ranked player in singles before making a comeback in mixed doubles alongside Manav Thakkar.

Event Date and Time

Women’s Singles – July 27, Saturday at 6:30 pm and 11:30 pm

Women’s Team Round of 16 – August 5, Saturday at 1:30 pm onwards

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