“Manika is playing her best table tennis,” says Mixed Doubles partner Sathiyan Gnanasekaran following Manika Batra’s historic Asian Championship bronze

Manika Batra scripted history when she won the bronze medal at the Asian Championship. She became the first Indian woman to do so in the 39-year old history of the competition. Batra was fabulous throughout the campaign as she defeated some of the top players in the world.

Watching her dominate some of the top players through her triumph to the bronze, her mixed doubles partner Sathiyan Gnanasekaran hailed her efforts and also felt that this was the best she has ever played. “She was very, very aggressive. It was the best I have seen her play. She’s always had the potential to beat the top players in the world, and I think she is now starting to play at her best,” he said.

Many people like Sathiyan believe that Manika Batra has entered her prime and there are scopes of even getting better from here. Manika who is ranked 44th in the world defeated World number 6 and three time Asian Champion, Hina Hayata in the battle for bronze. Earlier she knocked out World Number 7, China’s Chen Xingtong to reach the quarterfinals. This was also a record for Manika Batra as she became the first Indian to beat two top 10 ranked players in the same event.

Sathiyan was highly impressed by Manika Batra’s games as he felt that she was at her best. He also shared how this is a statement on behalf of the Indian table tennis contingent that even the Chinese and the Japanese are beatable. “I have no words to describe how significant this medal is. To win a medal in a tournament which has the top players in the world, beating so many top 10 players on the way – this will inspire all of us in the team. This shows us how India is on the rise and even the Chinese and Japanese are beatable,” Sathiyan added.

Earlier this year the mixed doubles pairing of Manika Batra and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran created history in terms of rankings as they became the first Indian pair to get into the world’s top five. Currently ranked fifth in the world, Sathiyan believes that the coming year will be crucial for them as they have the World Championships and the Asian Games and also the preparations for the Paris Olympics will begin.

“The next two years are going to be crucial. Given that Manika is playing at her best, I think we can do wonders. We have the World Championships coming up, then the Asian Games and finally the Paris Olympics,” Sathiyan highlighted.

Manika and Sathiyan will be India’s best bet to win a Olympic medal in table tennis in Paris as they are among the best in the world and on their day they have the capability to script history.