Manika Batra’s incredible run at the WTT Champions Montpellier 2024 came to an end in the quarterfinals, where she lost to China’s Qian Tianyi 0-3 (8-11, 8-11, 10-12) ¹ ² ³. Despite this setback, Batra made history by becoming the first Indian player to reach the top eight of a WTT Champions tournament ¹ ².
Batra’s journey to the quarterfinals was impressive, with wins over USA’s Lily Zhang and Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, the world number 14 ¹ ² ³. Her victory over Szocs was particularly notable, as she defeated her 3-1 (11-9, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9) in the round of 16 ¹.
Unfortunately, Batra’s compatriot, Sreeja Akula, didn’t fare as well, losing to Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico in the first round ¹ ². There were no Indian paddlers in contention in the men’s singles competition at the event ¹.
The WTT Champions series, launched in 2022, features the world’s top 32 male and female players, with significant prize money and ranking points at stake ¹ ². Batra’s achievement is a testament to her skill and determination, and we can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next!
