[WATCH]: Manika Batra leaves for Saarbrucken to train ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024
Indian table tennis star Manika Batra will begin her final preparations for the Paris Olympics 2024 shortly. She is traveling to Saarbrucken in Germany for a training camp and will then head to Paris for the Summer Olympics 2024.
The table tennis events at the Paris Olympics 2024 will commence on July 27 and will run until August 10 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
Manika Batra, on July 11, posted a video on her Instagram where she was seen saying goodbye to her close ones. Indian table tennis coach Massimo Costantini of Italy was also seen leaving with her to Germany.
“Team India - Olympics. Off to the Paris Olympics! Starting with a training camp in Saarbrücken before heading to the grand stage in Paris. Excited and ready to give it my all,” wrote Manika Batra.
Manika Batra’s recent performances
Manika Batra is a veteran of Indian table tennis, and Paris 2024 will mark her third appearance at the Summer Olympics. She achieved her career-high ranking of 24 after defeating World No. 2 Wang Manyu of China at the Saudi Smash in May 2024.
Currently, Manika is ranked 28th in the world rankings in women’s singles and is the second-highest-ranked Indian after Sreeja Akula, who is ranked 25th. Her last two competitions i.e. WTT Contender Lagos and WTT Contender Tunisia, weren’t the best as Manika bowed out in Round of 16.
However, hopes are high for the four-time Commonwealth Games and one-time Asian Games medallist, as on her day, she can take on any challenge in the world. She’ll be joined by Indian table tennis legend Sharath Kamal to lead the Indian table tennis contingent at the Paris Olympics 2024.
She’ll be joined by Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath in the women’s team whereas Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai will join hands with Sharath Kamal in the men’s team. Paris 2024 will be the first time that Indians will be featured in team events in table tennis.