Tokyo Olympics 2020: Star Indian paddler Manika Batra crashes out of women’s singles event

India star paddler Manika Batra bowed out of the women’s singles event after losing her Round 3 match against Austria’s Sofia Polcanova here at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym — Table 1 in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Monday. Sofia Polcanova defeated Batra 4-0 as the match lasted just 27 minutes.

Batra and Polcanova did exchange some great points to start the match but it was Austrian who prevailed against Manika’s rally and took the first set 11-8.

The second set was all Sofia from the start who cleverly neutralised Batra’s reverse spin and took the round in a blink of an eye. The 11-2 set lasted for just 4 minutes.

Batra’s lethal forearm continued to be missing in the third round against the Austrian’s stern defence as she again failed to put any fight and her opponent took the set 11-5. In the next one, the Indian tried to delay the inevitable by playing some quality long rallies but the end result remained the same. Polcanova claimed the set 11-7 and marched into the next round.

Despite a loss @manikabatra_TT put on a courageous performance against Sofia Palconova..

Just like @Pvsindhu1 & @NSaina she has laid the blueprint for Table Tennis to be a major sport in our country… #ManikaBatra #Olympics #Olympics2020. pic.twitter.com/WsiM1q8jhs

— Chander (@chander_RC17) July 26, 2021

Earlier, Sutirtha Mukherjee also crashed out of the women’s singles event after losing her Round 2 match against Portugal’s Fu Yu.

Meanwhile, Achanta Sharath Kamal progressed to Round 3 of the men’s singles event after defeating Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia. Kamal defeated Tiago 4-2 in Round 2 of the men’s singles event and the entire match lasted for 48 minutes.