Manika Batra becomes first Indian to bag ‘Breakthrough Table Tennis Star’ award

12/13/2018

Manika Batra became the first Indian to clinch the ‘Breakthrough Table Tennis Star’ award at the International Table Tennis Federation Star Awards in Incheon on Wednesday. Batra won a total of four medals at the 2018 Gold Coast CWG followed by one bronze medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta.

After an impressive 2018 so far, 23-year old table tennis star, Manika Batra, created history as she became the first Indian table tennis player to win the “Breakthrough Table Tennis Star” award at the prestigious International Table Tennis Federation Star Awards in Incheon on Wednesday.

“I am really honoured and happy to have received the award. I feel 2018 has been the best year of my career so far and I am happy for what I have achieved.

“I would like to thank the government, the Table Tennis Federation of India and, most importantly, my family who has been there for me and motivated me along this journey,” Batra said at the ceremony in China.

The Delhi-born youngster began the year on a high at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where she played a pivotal role to help India win their first-ever gold medal in the women’s team category. The Indian women’s team managed to outsmart four-time gold medallists and defending champions Singapore 3-1 in the final and win gold for the first time.

Batra went on to win another gold in the women’s singles category, as she beat former world No. 4 Feng Tianwei en route to the final. She added two more medals to her tally after she won a silver in the women’s doubles and a bronze in the mixed doubles categories.

The Arjuna awardee then partnered with India’s legendary Sharath Kamal to clinch a bronze in the mixed doubles category of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. In addition to that, Batra also reached a career-best ranking of 52 in 2018 and became India’s highest ranked female player in that process.

TTFI’s General Secretary MP Singh congratulated the Indian star and said, “The year has been great for Indian Table Tennis and this award for Manika perfectly caps it well for the sport. We are proud of Manika and all the others.”

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