Women’s table tennis team of India beats Romania and qualify for quarterfinals of Paris Olympics 2024

On Monday, August 5, the Indian women’s table tennis team achieved a historic milestone by advancing to the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics. They secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over the fourth-seeded Romanian team, marking India’s first-ever appearance in the women’s table tennis event at the Olympics.

India’s progress was a testament to their resilience and skill. The team, consisting of Sreeja Akula, Archana Girish Kamath, and Manika Batra, initially seemed poised for an easy win, having taken a 2-0 lead. Their dominance was evident as they won their opening matches decisively in straight games.

In the first match of the tie, Sreeja Akula and Archana Girish Kamath faced off against the Romanian duo of Adina Diaconu and Elizabeta Samara. The Indian pair delivered a strong performance, securing the match with scores of 11-9, 12-10, and 11-7. Following this, Manika Batra took to the table in the women’s singles event and delivered a stunning victory over the tenth-ranked Bernadette Szocs, winning with scores of 11-5, 11-7, and 11-7.

Despite this promising start, Romania fought back fiercely. Sreeja Akula had the chance to clinch the tie with a clean sweep, but Romanian veteran Samara mounted a comeback, ultimately winning 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 6-11, and 11-8. Archana Kamath then had the opportunity to seal the victory for India but fell short, losing in a closely contested match 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, and 9-11.

With the tie at a precarious 2-2, the responsibility fell on Manika Batra to deliver the decisive win. The three-time Olympian rose to the occasion, defeating Diaconu with scores of 11-5, 11-9, and 11-9, securing India’s place in the quarterfinals.

This remarkable achievement caps off an already impressive campaign for the Indian women’s table tennis players at the Paris Olympics. Both Batra and Sreeja Akula had made it to the Round of 16 in the women’s singles event, marking the furthest any Indian table tennis players have advanced in Olympic history.

India will now face the winner of the upcoming match between the United States and Germany on August 6. This performance not only highlights the team’s skill but also their ability to rise to the occasion under pressure, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting continuation of their Olympic journey.