Paris: The Indian women’s table tennis team made a spectacular debut at the Paris Olympics, edging out World No. 4 Romania 3-2 in a thrilling Round of 16 match at the South Paris Arena on Monday. The Indian squad, featuring Sreeja Akula, Archana Kamath, and Manika Batra, demonstrated exceptional teamwork and determination to secure their place in the quarterfinals.
The encounter began with Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath dominating the doubles match against Romania’s Adina Diaconu and Elizabeta Samara. The Indian pair won in straight games, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7, giving India an early 1-0 advantage.
India’s star player, Manika Batra, then faced Bernadette Szocs in the singles. Manika delivered a commanding performance, winning 11-5, 11-7, 11-7, and extending India’s lead to 2-0.
Romania mounted a comeback starting with Elizabeta Samara’s match against Sreeja Akula. Despite a strong start, Sreeja couldn’t maintain her momentum, ultimately losing 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, which brought the score to 2-1.
Archana Kamath then took on Bernadette Szocs in the fourth match. Despite her valiant effort, Kamath was unable to overcome Szocs’s aggressive play, losing 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 9-11, which leveled the contest at 2-2.
With the match hanging in the balance, Manika Batra stepped up for the decisive fifth rubber against Adina Diaconu. Manika showcased her skills under pressure, winning 11-5, 11-9, 11-9, and securing a hard-fought victory for India.
The Indian women’s team will now face either the USA or Germany in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Their impressive debut performance has raised hopes for further success in the competition.
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