"There are winners and then there are fighters" - Netizens console Manika Batra after her Round of 16 exit in Paris Olympics 2024
In disappointing news for Indian fans, ace paddler Manika Batra was eliminated from the Paris Olympics 2024 after suffering a defeat to Miu Hirano of Japan, the World No. 13, with a score of 1-4 in the Round of 16.
Although it was a record-breaking campaign for Batra, as she became the first Indian paddler to make the cut for the Round of 16 contest, she couldn’t withhold the pressure in the pre-quarter-final contest against her higher-ranked opponent.
The final scoreline read 6-11, 9-11, 14-12, 8-11, 6-11. Let’s take a look at how fans on X reacted to Batra’s exit from the individual table tennis event.
“It's over for Manika Batra. Tough tough game. But should be proud of where she reached,” a fan said.
"There are winners and then there are fighters. Winners get medals but fighters make history. You are a true fighter,” another fan said.
“That looks so hard to watch She's almost in tears #ManikaBatra,” a fan said.
More fans expressed their support for Batra and hoped she would perform better in the women's team event.
“Heartbreak for Manika Batra. I can feel her pain,” one fan said.
“What a run @manikabatra_TT has had at the Olympic Games. The scoreline in this match doesn't do justice to her effort. Hopefully she will go further with the women's team event,” a fan said.
"WE ARE PROUD OF YOU MANIKA," one fan said.
Manika Batra will be a part of the team event at the Paris Olympics
Nevertheless, Manika Batra will be back with the Indian Women's Table Tennis team in the Paris Olympics 2024. Sreeja Akula, Manika, and Archana Kamath made the cut in the Indian women's table tennis team via the ITTF World Rankings.
Additionally, Sreeja Akula is all set to lock horns with the Chinese paddler and the World No. 1 table tennis player Sun Yingsha later in the day in the Round of 16 encounter.
Yingsha, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist paddler in women’s singles, has most recently secured a gold medal in the mixed doubles event at the Paris Olympics 2024.