‘Improved in many areas during training in Japan’

Young paddler Manika Batra is all geared up for her maiden Olympics. The lanky 20-year-old Delhi girl who has created a splash at the national circuit especially in the last year is ready for the pinnacle of her sport.

“It is amazing to qualify for the first time. I will give my best there. I have been training with a Korean coach (Pak Myong) daily for five hours. My backhand is good but I am trying to improve my forehand play with Myong. My Indian coach Sandeep Gupta has also helped me.

“I trained in Japan for 7-8 days last month and trained with top U-21 players there. It was totally different in terms of focus. I have improved many things there. I also watch videos to get better,” she said on the sidelines of an event. Lakshya, a Pune based sports NGO along with confectionery brand Falero has joined hands to support the TT star.

Manika felt she had in her to create a few ripples like she has been doing at the junior level.

“I have great expectations I want to play well and give my best. I will try to do better. I know it won’t be easy as world’s top players will be there but I will take inspiration from beating world no. 6 Japanese Kasumi Ishikawa at the Chile Open (U-21 in 2011). I won silver there and it is still my biggest win.”

She will be going to Rio with the experienced Achanta Sharath Kamal, Mouma Das and Soumyajit Ghosh.

“I will take the advice of Sharath and Mouma who been already there,” she said.

Lakshya will have five more players at the Games including first timer Ghosh. The others are wrestler Ravindra Khatri, badminton doubles stars Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Atri and tennis player Prarthana Thombare, who will be partnering Sania Mirza in women’s doubles.

“Manika is the most hardworking girl and has great TT career ahead of her. With the support from Lakhsya she can focus on skills and forget about other worries. She has remained the top Indian junior ranked player and I wish she does well at Olympics and afterwards break into World top 100,” former table tennis international Kamlesh Mehta said.