‘We’ve proved we can beat the best,’ says Manika Batra

MUCH WAS WRITTEN when Manika Batra and G Sathiyan failed to make it to the Paris 2024 Olympics in the mixed doubles discipline. While both have made it as part of the teams’ event, failure to make the mixed doubles draw was a disappointment. Batra needed to do something special to come out of this negativity. Redemption, as many would say. The Saudi Smash was exactly that. Playing the best she ever has, Manika made the last eight of the prestigious tournament, beating the World No 2 and the World No 14, and in doing so, has raised serious hopes about Paris 2024. Soon after the campaign, she spoke to me about what she did differently, how important it was and how she is planning to get ready for the Olympics.

The Saudi Smash was a revelation. Tell me more about it.

It is the best I have ever played. To be able to beat Wang Manyu, currently World No 2, was a dream come true. I had lost to her 0-4 in the World Cup and remember telling my coach that I had always sensed a chance, and if I get to play her again, things could be different. In the Saudi Smash, I managed to do it. The most important thing was I kept faith in my game and was perhaps the one who had control all through the match. This win has given me a lot of satisfaction.

Having watched the match, what stood out for me was your ability to come back under pressure. You lost the first game and then managed to raise your game by a few notches. That’s always difficult.

Even in the first game, I was competing hard. When I was down, for example, I did not give up. Each point was hard fought and that’s what had made me feel I could push her. And that’s what happened in the next few games. When I put her under pressure, she wasn’t able to deal with it. And once I had control of the match, I wasn’t willing to let go. Like I said, it is one match I will always remember and it has given me a lot of confidence.

Winning one such match is always a huge thing. But then I have noticed that after winning a big match like this, players often lose the next one. It is because they are physically and mentally exhausted. In your case, you managed to retain the intensity and take out the World No 14 in the next match as well.

I did not celebrate much after winning against Wang Manyu. Yes, I was very happy and I am not for once denying it. But the moment the match ended, my first thought was that the tournament wasn’t over yet. I had to play the World No 14 next and it was yet one more opportunity. So, I had to focus hard. I wanted to go deep into the tournament and was determined to do so. That’s what worked for me.

Coming at the back of the disappointment of not being able to make the mixed doubles in Paris, this must have come as a big relief for you?

Yes, you can absolutely say that. Sathiyan and I were playing well but then we both were unwell for a while leading into the qualifiers and weren’t able to bring out our A-game in the competition. It was hugely disappointing for we had put in a lot of hard work and were much looking forward to playing the Olympics together. But that’s how sport is. You can never plan much or plan ahead. Things don’t always go to plan. The important thing is to stay grounded and keep working hard. That’s what is in our hands as athletes and that’s what we need to keep doing.

“When I was down, I did not give up. Each point was hard fought and that’s what had made me feel I could push her. And that’s what happened in the next few games. When I put Wang Manyu under pressure, she wasn’t able to deal with it,” says Manika Batra table tennis player

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What did you do differently in the Saudi Smash?

The only thing I did, and I am being totally candid, is work the hardest. That’s what I have been doing. If you keep working hard on your game, success has to come and that’s what I will do in the next one-and-a-half months. After losing out on the mixed doubles qualification, there was a 10-12 day window and I remember telling my coach that I wanted to utilise every single day to get better. I trained the best I could and you can now see the results. If 10-12 days can give us these results, needless to say, a month-and-a-half of solid training can make me seriously competitive at the Olympics.

Both men’s and women’s teams have made it to the Olympics in a historic first for Indian table tennis. Your win against Wang Manyu should encourage every player who will be competing.

Yes, for sure. It is clear proof that we can and we are capable of winning at the highest level against the top-ranked players. We have been playing well for a while now. Sharath bhaiya had a very good run in the Singapore Smash, Sathiyan did really well in Beirut, I did well in Saudi, Ayhika and Sutirtha did superbly well in the Asian Games. So, overall, we have all been playing some really good table tennis. Now, we need to do so as a team in Paris at the highest stage of all. Playing the Olympics is always a dream for any athlete and playing as a team, more so. We will all give our very best in Paris 2024.

Your career has always been a roller coaster. There have been controversies on the way. And yet you have managed to stay strong mentally. How important is mental health? Unless you are mentally there, you can’t be physically there as well. Isn’t it?

It is the most important thing. You need clarity of thought. You need to be able to think clearly what you want to do, how you want to train, how you might need to move to Plan B in the course of a game. All of these things can only happen if you are mentally fresh. In my case, I was very disappointed after the mixed doubles failure. Negative thoughts were starting to take over. That’s when I worked the hardest. I made sure that I kept believing in my own ability. And now, I am mentally and physically right up there. I have to make sure that things stay the same going into Paris. If I am able to do that, there is no reason why Paris will not be great for us.

Finally, have you got all your plans in place leading up to Paris?

Yes, and I have been discussing them with my coach and my support team. We will make sure every detail is worked out and I am the best prepared. Attention to detail is key and preparation has to be at its best. That’s the only goal in the next month-and-a-half.

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Boria Majumdar

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