Manika Batra's Historic Run Ends in Round of 16

Indian table tennis star Manika Batra's historic run at the Paris Olympics ended with a 1-4 defeat to Japan's Miu Hirano in the women's singles Round of 16. Batra, ranked 28th in the world, made history by being the first Indian paddler to reach this stage at the Olympics after defeating higher-ranked French player Prithika Pavade in the Round of 32. Despite a valiant effort, including winning the third game 14-12, Batra was outplayed by Hirano, who leveraged tactical timeouts and aggressive play to secure the victory. Batra’s performance, which included a strong win over Great Britain's Anna Hursey in the Round of 64, showcases her significant progress and marks a high point in Indian table tennis history.