Ultimate Table Tennis | Manika Batra helps Dabang Smashers seal semi-final berth
2018 CWG gold medalist Manika Batra along with Manav Thakkar of Dabang Smashers recorded thrilling victories over higher-ranked rivals to seal a semi-final berth at the ongoing UTT league. The Smashers beat Empowerji Challengers by a scoreline of 15-6 in the Kolkata leg of the competition yesterday.
Ahead of the Indian players' monumental challenge at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, the likes of Manika Batra, G Sathiyan, and Sharath Kamal looked to be in fine form in their recent games at the ongoing Ultimate Table Tennis tournament. Batra in particular has been in stellar form and continued her fine displays on the court with yet another impressive performance for her franchise.
Her win helped the Smashers seal a semi-final spot at the expense of Empowerji Challengers as the Smashers ended the league phase with 63 points while Challengers had to settle with 42 points. Batra regained her winning touch by fighting her way to a 2-1 (7-11, 11-9, 11-10) victory over World No. 20 Lee Ho Ching to help Smashers gain an early lead. Teen sensation Manav Thakkar shocked World No. 27 Yoshida Masaki 2-1 (11-10, 5-11, 11-9) to help Challengers level the scores 3-3.
The World Number 80, however, lost the first game 7-11 before coming back in the second 11-9 by using her forehand with commanding effect. In the decider, Batra initially trailed 7-10 but eventually claimed four crucial points on the trot to turn the tables on her rival from Hong Kong and secure a win for the Smashers.Â
It has been a sensational run this season for Batra, who claimed wins against higher-ranked opponents like world number 18 Sofia Polcanova of Warriors TTC in her first match before upsetting Falcons’ Matilda Ekholm (World No. 30) and then RP-SG Mavericks’ Sabine Winter (World No. 60).