Indian table tennis star Manika Batra etched her name in the history books by winning the gold medal in the women’s singles event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
The 22-year-old paddler stunned Singapore’s former world number four, Yu Mengyu, with a commanding performance in the final to clinch India’s first-ever women’s singles gold in Commonwealth Games table tennis.
Batra’s fearless attacking play and relentless consistency were on full display as she dismantled one top seed after another throughout the tournament. Her gold in singles added to an already impressive haul at the Games, where she also contributed to India’s gold in the women’s team event and picked up medals in women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Her triumph marked a turning point for Indian women’s table tennis on the global stage and inspired a new generation of players in the country.
