Paris 2024 Olympics table tennis draw: Manika Batra faces Anna Hursey; Sharath Kamal takes on Deni Kozul in singles
The Paris 2024 Olympics table tennis draw, held on Wednesday at the South Paris Arena, has set the stage for some exciting matches. India's table tennis team is gearing up for the table tennis competitions running from July 27 to August 10 at the South Paris Arena. Led by the experienced Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra, the six-member squad is ready to compete in both individual and team events.
In the women's singles, Manika Batra faces 18-year-old Anna Hursey from Great Britain in the opening round. Batra, who is seeded 18th, aims to build on her performance from Tokyo 2020, where she reached the third round.
This will be her third consecutive appearance at the Summer Games, following her debut in Rio 2016. Hursey, making her Olympic debut, is ranked 103rd in the world, giving Batra a clear edge in experience and ranking.
Sreeja Akula, another strong contender from India, is seeded 16th and will play Sweden’s Christina Kallberg in the round of 64. Kallberg, who also competed in Tokyo 2020, will be looking to advance past the opening round this time, while Akula is eager to make her mark in her Olympic debut.
Women’s singles Paris 2024 Olympics table tennis draw
- Round of 64: Manika Batra vs Anna Hursey (Great Britain)
- Round of 64: Sreeja Akula vs Christina Kallberg (Sweden)
Sharath Kamal takes on Deni Kozul in men's singles Paris 2024 Olympics table tennis draw
In the men's singles, veteran Sharath Kamal will take on Slovenia’s 27-year-old Deni Kozul in the first round. Kamal, set to become a five-time Olympian, brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial against Kozul, who also competed in Tokyo 2020.
Harmeet Desai starts his campaign from the preliminary round, facing Jordan’s Zaid Abo Yaman on July 27. The preliminary matches are crucial, consisting of three games each, with the winners advancing to the round of 64. If Desai wins, he will face a tough challenge against Felix Lebrun of France, the World No. 5, in the main draw.
Men’s singles Paris 2024 Olympics table tennis draw
- Preliminary round: Harmeet Desai vs Zaid Abo Yaman (Jordan)
- Round of 64: Sharath Kamal vs Deni Kozul (Slovenia)