WTT: Manika’s sensational run ends in quarter-finals

The Indian entered the quarter-finals, backing herself to put it past Hayata as she had upset the Japanese to win a historic bronze in the Asia Cup back in 2022

Manika Batra’s giant-killing run at the Grand Smash tournament here ended in the women’s singles quarter-finals on Thursday as she lost to Japan’s Hina Hayata 1-4, having become the first Indian woman table tennis player to enter the last eight stage of an elite WTT event.

The Indian ace was coming off victory over World No. 14 Nina Mittelham. After stunning World  No. 2 Wang Manyu in the second round, Batra extended her red hot form in Saudi Arabia with a 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 win over her German rival in just 22 minutes on Wednesday. However, she could not stretch the run against World No. 5 Hayata, losing 11-7, 6-11, 4-11, 11-13, 2-11.

Earlier, Batra recorded first win over Mittelham in four attempts to set up a meeting with another formidable rival in Hayata. The Indian entered the quarter-finals, backing herself to put it past Hayata as she had upset the Japanese to win a historic bronze in the Asia Cup back in 2022.

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