Saudi Smash 2024: Manika Batra stuns World No. 2 Wang Manyu, reaches round of 16

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FILE PHOTO: Manika Batra. | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES

FILE PHOTO: Manika Batra. | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Manika Batra stunned World No. 2 Wang Manyu to progress to the round of 16 at Saudi Smash in Jeddah on Monday.

Batra, who recently lost her status as the top-ranked Indian female to Sreeja Akula, beat China's Wang 3-1 (6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10) in 37 minutes. The Indian faces Germany's Nina Mittelham, ranked 14th in the world, for a place in the quarterfinals.

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World No. 39 Batra began her campaign with a 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-8) win over Romania's Andreea Dragoman on Saturday.

In mixed doubles, Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade shocked 5th-seeded Spanish duo of Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao 3-2 (11-5, 5-11, 3-11, 11-7,11-7) to reach the quarterfinals. Harmeet and Yashaswini had defeated Chile's Nicolas Burgos and Paulina Vega 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-5) in their opening-round match.

After the win, Manika said that beating the number 2 seed was the biggest achievement of her singles career. "I am very happy because it wasn't just a day's hard work, because it takes days, months and years of hard work to achieve such results. I want to thank everyone who was there for me, cheered me and supported me," Manika said.

"I fought for every ball in the game and I'll keep that fighting spirit up in the next match and coming tournaments as well," she added.

Asian Games bronze medallists Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee reached the round of 16 in women's doubles with a comfortable 3-0 (11-7, 11-3, 11-4) win over Egypt's Mariam and Marwa Alhodaby. The Indian duo will be up against the Korean-Japanese pair of Kim Nayeong and Miyu Nagasaki for a spot in the quarterfinals.