Manika Batra, a prominent Indian table tennis player, has achieved remarkable success nationally and internationally. This post delves into her life, career, and accomplishments.

Biography/Wiki

Born on June 15, 1995, in Naraina Vihar, New Delhi, Manika Batra’s journey began with a love for table tennis at the tender age of five. Under the expert guidance of coach Sandeep Gupta, her talent flourished. By the age of eight, she had already secured victory in an under-8 state-level tournament, showcasing her early promise.

Physical Appearance

Manika possesses a fit physique (34-28-34), standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 65 kilograms. This physical prowess, combined with her agility and intelligence, allows her to execute diverse shots with precision and power.

Family, Caste & Boyfriend

Hailing from a humble Hindu family, Manika received unwavering support from her father, Girish Batra. Growing up in a table tennis-loving household, with both her elder brother, Sahil, and elder sister, Anchal, also playing the sport, fostered her passion. Currently, she is single and entirely focused on her career.

Career

After completing secondary education at Hans Raj Model School, New Delhi, and briefly attending Jesus and Mary College, Manika prioritized her table tennis career, opting to drop out of college during her first year of graduation.

• In 2008, at just 13, she made her international debut representing India.
• She won a silver medal in the 2011 Chile Open Under-21 category.
• In the 2015 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship, she, alongside Mouma Das and Ankita Das, won silver medals in both the women’s team and women’s doubles events, followed by a bronze in the women’s singles.
• The 2016 South Asian Games saw her win three gold medals – women’s doubles (with Pooja Sahasrabudhe), mixed doubles (with Anthony Amalraj), and women’s team (with Mouma Das and Shamini Kumaresan).
• She secured another gold medal with the Indian women’s team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
• In November 2022, she etched her name in history as the first Indian woman to win a medal (bronze) at the ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup, defeating Hina Hayata.
• She made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first Indian table tennis player to reach the pre-quarterfinals.

Awards

In 2018, Manika Batra was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award for her exceptional contributions to sports.

Facts

Despite receiving multiple modeling offers, Manika chose to dedicate herself fully to table tennis. Reaching the world’s 58th rank on her 22nd birthday was a significant milestone. Alia Bhatt is her favorite actress, and she admires sports personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, Mouma Das, Neha Aggarwal, and Saina Nehwal. Dancing and nail art are among her hobbies.

Manika Batra’s Achievements Timeline