Sreeja Akula achieves career-best ranking of World No. 21 in women’s singles
Ace Indian paddler Sreeja Akula moved one spot up after her Paris Olympics 2024 heroics, ascending to the 21st rank in the newly released ITTF rankings for women's singles. Notably, this is the highest-ever ranking for an Indian paddler in the singles category in ITTF rankings history.
At the Paris Olympics 2024, Sreeja Akula looked exceptional even though she couldn't move past the pre-quarter-final. In the Round of 64, Sreeja stunned Sweden's Christina Kallberg 4-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8) to move to the Round of 32.
Though she faced a tough time against Singapore's Jian Zeng, Sreeja came out on top, winning the match 4-2 (9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10). In the pre-quarter-final, she was thoroughly dominated by China's Sun Yingsha as the Indian paddler suffered a 0-4 loss (10-12, 10-12, 8-11, 3-11)
Despite this being her first Summer Games campaign, Sreeja Akula put up an impressive show, marking it the best performance by an Indian at the Paris Olympics 2024.
On the other hand, Manika Batra continues to retain her 25th rank. Sutirtha Mukherjee (83), Yashaswini Ghorpade (85), and Ayhika Mukherjee (90) are the other players in the top 100 in the updated ITTF rankings.
It’s worth noting that Sreeja and Manika Batra emerged as the first table tennis players from India to make the cut for the round of 16 at the Games in individual events.
Sreeja Akula sidelined for six weeks, to miss 2024 edition of Ultimate Table Tennis
Sreeja Akula will not be a part of the upcoming season of Ultimate Table Tennis, having suffered a stress fracture. She is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks on her doctor’s advice.
“I’m sorry to share that I have been diagnosed with a stress fracture and on my doctor’s advice, I’ll need to rest for six weeks, which unfortunately means I won’t be able to participate in UTT 2024,” Akula said in a statement.
Sreeja was roped in by the Jaipur Patriots franchise. However, she would be replaced by the U19 Youth National Champion paddler and UTT debutant Nithyashree Mani for the UTT 2024.
UTT 2024 will be held in Chennai from August 22 to September 7 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.