India's Manika Batra delivered an impressive performance at the WTT Champions Montpellier, stunning eighth seed Bernadette Szocs of Romania to secure her place in the women's singles quarter-finals. The match took place at the Sud de France Arena in Montpellier, France, on October 25.
Batra, currently ranked 30th in the world, faced Szocs, who holds the 14th position. The match was highly competitive, with Batra ultimately prevailing with a scoreline of 3-1. The games unfolded as follows: 11-9, 6-11, 13-11, and 11-9, showcasing Batra's resilience and skill over a duration of 29 minutes.
This victory marks Batra's second triumph over Szocs this year, having previously defeated her in the quarter-finals of the women's team event at the Paris Olympics, where India clinched a narrow 3-2 victory. With this latest win, Batra has improved her head-to-head record against Szocs to 6-5, demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure against higher-ranked opponents.
The match began with Batra edging out the first game before Szocs bounced back to claim the second game, leveling the match at 1-1. The third game proved crucial, as Batra saved two game points in a tightly contested battle, showcasing her tenacity and strategic play. In the fourth game, despite trailing at times, Batra managed to regain her composure and ultimately secured the win, booking a quarter-final showdown against China’s Qian Tianyi.
Qian Tianyi reached the quarter-finals after defeating her compatriot Wang Yidi in a straightforward 3-0 victory, with scores of 11-7, 11-9, and 13-11. Batra and Qian will face each other in their quarter-final match on October 26, and their previous encounters are evenly matched, with each player winning once.
Batra's journey in Montpellier began on a strong note, as she opened her campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over the USA's Lily Zhang, winning with scores of 11-4, 11-8, and 12-10. This performance set the tone for her success in the tournament and built momentum as she advanced deeper into the competition.
As the only Indian player to reach the quarter-finals, Batra stands out in a field of formidable opponents. Her compatriot, Sreeja Akula, was unable to progress past the first round, losing a closely contested match against World No. 13 Adriana Diaz from Puerto Rico. Akula, who entered the tournament ranked 25th in the world, fought hard but ultimately fell short, losing 3-2 with scores of 6-11, 11-7, 11-1, 8-11, and 11-8.
Batra's remarkable performance and determination continue to inspire her fans and demonstrate India's growing presence in international table tennis. As she prepares for her quarter-final clash against Qian Tianyi, expectations are high for another exciting match that could further cement her status as one of the top players in the sport.
