Mumbai: Young paddler Manika Batra is all geared up for her maiden Olympics. The 20-year-old lanky Delhi girl who has created a splash at the national circuit especially in the last year is ready for the ultimate challenge.
“It is amazing to qualify for the first time. I will give my best there. I have been training with Korean coach (Pak Myong) daily for five hours. My backhand is good but I am trying to improve my forehand. 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 also watch videos to get better,” she said at the sidelines of an event. Lakshya, a Pune based Sports NGO along with confectionery brand Falero has joined hands to support the table tennis star.
Manika felt she has in her to create a few ripples like what she has been doing at the junior level. “I have great expectations I want to play good and give my best.”
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 representing at the Games including first-timer Ghosh. The others being 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 in tennis. “Manika is the most hardworking girl and has great TT career ahead of her,” former international Kamlesh Mehta said.
