Manika Batra is the nation's greatest hope in desk tennis Paris Olympics 2024; Manika Batra Success Story | Desk Tennis Medal | Manika needed to be a medalist and never a mannequin, so she selected sports activities: Mom used to do homework in order that observe was not disturbed, elevated her food regimen after watching 'Dangal' theinsiderinsight

'In 2016, Manika was enjoying within the South Asian Video games. When she scored her final level, I used to be holding my breath. When Manika received, I turned off the TV and began crying with pleasure. Manika had received three golds. It was exhausting to imagine that she was enjoying at such a excessive stage and would win a medal for the nation.'

When Sushma Batra, mom of desk tennis participant Manika Batra, says this, happiness is clearly seen on her face. Delhi's Manika is in Paris to play her third consecutive Olympics. Her matches have began. Manika made it to the Spherical of 32 on Sunday by defeating Britain's Anna Hersey. Taking a look at her previous file of wins, Manika is a giant contender for the medal.

Manika's mom was very impressed by the movie Dangal. After watching the movie, she additionally included loads of almonds in her daughter's food regimen. She hopes that together with Manika, her exhausting work can even be rewarded within the type of an Olympic medal this time. Learn the bottom report from Manika's home…

Began enjoying desk tennis on the age of 4, received silver medal in eighth
Manika has an elder sister and a brother. All three are keen on sports activities since childhood. Manika's sister additionally used to play desk tennis. Manika's mom Sushma Batra says, 'Seeing her elder sister, Manika's curiosity in desk tennis additionally began growing. She has been enjoying desk tennis because the age of 4. She began from her college in Delhi. Later she joined the academy.'

Sushma Batra additional says, 'Manika's father used to play desk tennis as a pastime. I used to be additionally desirous about sports activities and health. Manika is the youngest of the three kids. The son was good in research. The elder daughter was an all-rounder. They selected skilled life as an alternative of sports activities. They go to workplace, do jobs. Manika made desk tennis her profession.'

Manika Batra throughout her first match on the Paris Olympics on July 28.

'We noticed that Manika could be very severe about desk tennis, she is working exhausting, so we have been pressured to push her ahead on this sport. Research got second precedence. So far as I do know, earlier than Manika, there was no massive Indian participant in ladies's desk tennis. I’ve a rule, no matter you do, do it with full dedication. Don't waste time.'

'When Manika began successful tournaments, I felt that she will be able to transfer forward on this. She will do one thing massive. When she was younger, I had thought that Manika could make a profession in desk tennis. She was in eighth grade when she received the silver medal in Chile Open. On the nationwide stage, Manika began defeating senior gamers.'

Manika practices desk tennis, her mom helps her along with her college homework
Recalling Manika's college days, Sushma says, 'Research and sports activities can’t be managed collectively. So we helped Manika. Manika's sister and I used to do her homework. I used to make notes for her. This was within the yr 2011.'

Manika performed her first Olympics on the age of 21. Her rating in 2017 was 104. She is the primary Indian feminine desk tennis participant to succeed in this rank.

Sushma says, 'I used to be with Manika in Australia through the Commonwealth Video games in 2018. I felt very proud to see Manika enjoying in entrance of me. Manika received gold for India in that match. I used to be very blissful. Everybody sitting there was coming and congratulating me.'

From 5am to 6pm, solely research and desk tennis
Manika's routine was very strict and troublesome. She would go away dwelling at 5 within the morning and return dwelling at 6 within the night. Sushma says, 'Manika was 4 years previous after we put her within the academy. The academy was within the college itself. She would observe with out taking depart. She was younger, so we needed to assist her.'

'Manika used to get up at 5 am and do health coaching for half an hour. I used to take her to highschool at 7 am. She used to observe within the college corridor. She used to attend college at 9 am. I used to convey lunch for her to highschool within the afternoon.'

'Faculty used to finish at 2 o'clock. She used to alter her garments and observe within the college itself. Then when she would return dwelling at 6 within the night, she could be so drained that she would go to sleep after having dinner. Sure, throughout board exams, Manika used to take depart from sports activities.'

'I used to be very impressed by the film Dangal. Similar to within the film, Aamir Khan used to provide almonds and heavy food regimen to his daughter. I additionally received impressed. I used to soak almonds for Manika. I used to make milk for her and provides it to her.'

Manika has been working towards within the academy because the age of 4. Picture- manikabatra.15 Insta

Modelling provides got here, however Manika targeted on sports activities solely
Manika is keen on vogue. Due to her peak and persona, she retains getting modelling provides. She rejects each supply as a result of she desires to deal with sports activities. Sushma says, 'Manika has just one pastime, purchasing.'

'She loves shopping for garments. Manika's wardrobe is all the time full of garments. She desires a brand new gown each day. She desires new footwear. She has obtained many modelling provides, however she all the time desires to provide precedence to desk tennis.'

Sushma says, 'When Manika began enjoying desk tennis, it was seen as a sport the place one solely needed to take part. Earlier in India, desk tennis was not thought-about a severe sport. There weren’t so many services then.'

'Now we’ve got the assist of SAI, Desk Tennis Federation and the federal government. Now our gamers are even defeating China. Manika needed individuals to take desk tennis as a profession and never as a pastime.'

Aside from desk tennis, Manika's pastime is purchasing. Picture- manikabatra.15 Insta

The coach made a technique with Olympian Neha Agarwal
Coach Sandeep Gupta has been with Manika since her college days. In 2019, he was awarded the Dronacharya Award. He used to run an academy named 'Stage Desk Tennis' at Hans Raj Mannequin Faculty in Delhi.

Sandeep Gupta says, 'Manika was solely 4 years previous when she got here to me. My academy's previous centre was in Hans Raj Mannequin Faculty, the place Manika additionally studied. I had additionally educated her sister. Manika is a really devoted participant. Even at a younger age, she used to play desk tennis with out stopping. Desk tennis is a really quick sport. Any little one will get drained shortly.'

Speaking about teaching and coaching, Sandeep says, 'The varsity supported us rather a lot. We used to observe within the college from 7 to 9 within the morning. After that Manika used to attend lessons carrying the college uniform. After college, she used to relaxation within the desk tennis corridor from 2 to three within the afternoon. We used to observe for 3 hours within the morning and three hours within the night.'

'Each participant is totally different in his personal approach. Coaching is completed in accordance with that. Health, service and method are taught. We have now educated very exhausting from the preliminary stage itself. Manika used to observe for hours regardless of the coach instructed her.'

'Manika didn’t win any title until the junior stage. After coming to the youth class, she has remained unbeatable. She received the Beneath-21 title on the nationwide stage thrice in a row. She grew to become the nationwide champion for the primary time in Hyderabad. Indian Olympian Neha Agarwal additionally taught Manika rather a lot. We labored collectively on Manika's method. That is the explanation why she was in a position to defeat the large gamers of the world.'

'When Manika went to play within the Rio Olympics, she returned very dissatisfied. She was younger then. We had determined whereas returning on the airplane that we’ll work exhausting on her. We’ll strive each solution to instill in her the eagerness wanted to turn out to be a world class participant.'

'We educated in Japan, Korea and Europe. Earlier than the match, I inform him to not deal with who’s enjoying towards you. You need to know the right way to use your strengths and the weaknesses of your opponent.'

Earlier than each match, Manika's coach asks her to deal with her strengths. Picture- manikabatra.15 Insta

Manika Batra grew to become the primary Indian feminine desk tennis participant to make it to the spherical of 32 in singles on the Tokyo Olympics. Nonetheless, she couldn’t win a medal. Earlier than the beginning of her occasion on the Paris Olympics, Manu Bhaker additionally mentioned in an interview, 'I’ve discovered rather a lot from the final Olympics.'

'I’m not going to repeat these errors once more. My mindset has modified since then, I’m calm and I’ve extra confidence in myself. My aim is to play for a medal, however I’ll transfer ahead slowly. I’ll play spherical by spherical and won’t take into consideration the medal too early.'