India’s hopes of making a mark at the ITTF World Cup in Macao have been dashed, with both Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula failing to advance beyond the group stage of the prestigious table tennis tournament.

The Paris 2024 Olympians faced tough competition from top-ranked players, ultimately falling short in their bid to reach the knockout rounds.

Batra’s Defeat:

World No. 30 Manika Batra suffered a 3-1 defeat to Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, ranked 24th in the world, in their Group 16 encounter. This marked Takahashi’s second career win over Batra, having previously beaten the Indian in the opening round of the 2021 World Championships.

Akula Outclassed:

In Group 9, Sreeja Akula, ranked 35th in the world, was outclassed 4-0 by Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, the reigning European Games champion. Szocs topped her group without dropping a single game.

Tough Competition:

Both Akula and Batra finished second in their respective groups, falling short of qualifying for the knockout stage, which begins on Thursday. The tournament concludes on Sunday.

India has yet to win a medal in table tennis at the ITTF World Cup, and the early exit of both Batra and Akula leaves the country without a representative in the knockout rounds.

While the Indian challenge at the World Cup has ended early, it’s important to acknowledge the strong competition faced by both Batra and Akula. They will undoubtedly continue to strive for success in future tournaments.

What are your thoughts on India’s performance at the ITTF World Cup? What are your hopes for the future of Indian table tennis?