Tennis

Sreeja Akula, India's rising table tennis star, has etched her name in history by becoming the second Indian woman to reach the pre-quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics. On her 26th birthday, Akula displayed remarkable resilience and determination to overcome Singapore's Jian Zeng in a thrilling 4-2 victory.Akula's journey to the pre-quarterfinals was not without its challenges. She dropped the opening game but rallied back with unwavering spirit, winning the next three games to take a commanding lead. Zeng fought back to claim the fifth game, but Akula remained composed and sealed the deal in the sixth game, securing her place in the next round.Akula's victory is a testament to her hard work and dedication. Last month, she achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 24, displacing Manika Batra as India's top women's singles player. Akula's triumph at the WTT Contender singles title in Lagos in June further solidified her status as a rising star in the sport.In the pre-quarterfinals, Akula will face a formidable opponent in China's world number one Sun Yingsha. Despite the daunting task ahead, Akula is confident in her abilities and determined to make history once again.Akula's success is not only a personal achievement but also a significant milestone for Indian table tennis. It marks the first time that two Indian women have reached the pre-quarterfinals of the Olympics, a testament to the growing strength and depth of the sport in India.

Indian table tennis veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal's Olympic journey came to an abrupt end in the men's singles competition, while star woman player Manika Batra made a strong start to her campaign in Paris.Kamal, 42, suffered a disappointing 2-4 (12-10 9-11 6-11 7-11 11-8 10-12) defeat to Deni Kozul of Slovenia in the round of 64. Despite winning the first game, Kamal struggled to maintain his momentum, losing the next three games. He rallied to win the fifth game but ultimately fell short in the sixth, bowing out of the competition.In contrast, Manika Batra, 29, dominated Anna Hursey of Great Britain in her round of 64 women's singles match, winning 4-1 (11-8 12-10 11-9 9-11 11-5). The 2018 Commonwealth Games champion, seeded 18th in the tournament, controlled the match from the outset, taking a 3-0 lead. Hursey managed to win the fourth game, but Batra quickly regained her composure and sealed the victory in the fifth game.Earlier, India's top-ranked woman paddler Sreeja Akula also advanced to the round of 32 with a clinical 4-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8) win over Sweden's Christina Kallberg. Akula, who made history by becoming the first Indian paddler to win a WTT Contender singles title, displayed her dominance throughout the match.Manika Batra will face 12th seed Prithika Pavade of France in the round of 32 on July 31, while Sreeja Akula will take on 19th seed Sofia Polcanova of Austria on the same day.