[Watch]: Manika Batra flaunts India-coloured nails after India beat Romania in Paris Olympics

Manika Batra was over the moon after India beat Romania in the women’s table tennis event on Monday, August 5, at the Paris Olympics 2024. With the triumph, Batra and Co. also made their way into the quarterfinal of the showpiece event.

After the match, Manika Batra had a broad smile on her face as she posed for the cameras. Moreover, she flaunted her fingernails, painted with the Indian tri-colour. Sreeja Akula, India’s top-ranked table tennis player, was standing behind her and she looked upbeat as well.

Watch the video here

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Manika Batra shepherds India past Romania in Paris Olympics

India’s Round of 16 affair against Romania turned out to be a closely fought affair. India began comprehensively after the pair of Archana Kamath and Sreeja Akula beat Adina Diaconu and Elizabeta Samara 11-9, 12-10, 11-7. Thereafter, Manika got the better of Bernadette Szocs, winning the match 11-5, 11-7, 11-7. With Manika Batra’s win, India took a 2-0 lead in the match.

However, Romania were not willing to throw in the towel easily. Sreeja fought hard for five sets against Samara but ended up losing the contest 8-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8. Romania drew the equalizer and made it 2-2 after Szocs beat Kamath 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9.

With the scoreline reading 2-2, the onus was on Manika to make sure that India had the last laugh. She defeated Dianconu 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 and helped her team cross the finish line in a thriller.

Earlier, in the women’s singles, Manika, who is also the recipient of the Arjuna Award, became the first Indian paddler to qualify for the Round of 16 after she beat France’s Prithika Pavade. However, she crashed out after losing Japan’s Miu Hirano in the pre-quarters. Manika also donned the national colors in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

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