Manika Batra Quick Info | |
---|---|
Height | 5 ft 11 in |
Weight | 64 kg |
Date of Birth | June 15, 1995 |
Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Manika Batra is an Indian table tennis player who had won the ‘Gold’ medal in the women’s team, women’s doubles, and the mixed doubles events at the 2016 South Asian Games held in Guwahati and Shillong, India. She had also secured a ‘Silver’ medal in the women’s singles event there. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, she had won ‘Gold’ medals in the women’s team and the women’s singles events, a ‘Silver’ medal in the women’s doubles event, and a ‘Bronze’ medal in the mixed doubles event. At the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, she had clinched a ‘Bronze’ medal in the mixed doubles events. The same year, she was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award, the 2nd-highest sporting honor of India. In 2020, she was honored with the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna’ award, the highest sporting honor in India.
Born Name
Manika Batra
Nick Name
Manna
Sun Sign
Gemini
Born Place
Delhi, India
Residence
Delhi, India
Nationality
Education
Manika had attended the Hans Raj Model School, a private school in Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi.
After her high school graduation, she had joined the Jesus and Mary College, a women-only college of the University of Delhi, a collegiate public central university in New Delhi. She had, however, dropped out after a year to concentrate on table tennis.
Occupation
Table Tennis Player
Family
- Father – Girish Batra
- Mother – Sushma Batra
- Siblings – Anchal Batra (Older Sister) (Former Table Tennis Player), Sahil Batra (Older Brother) (Former Table Tennis Player)
Manager
She is represented by Rahul Trehan, Manager and Booking Agent, Infinity Optimal Solutions Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India.
Playing Style
Shakehand Grip
Build
Athletic
Height
5 ft 11 in or 180.5 cm
Weight
64 kg or 141 lbs
Race / Ethnicity
Asian (Indian)
Hair Color
Black
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Toned physique
- Center-parted, shoulder-length, straight hair
- Gleaming face
Religion
Hinduism
Manika Batra Facts
- Manika, inspired by watching her older sister play table tennis, had started practicing the sport when she was 4 years old. After she had won a match in a state-level under-8 tournament, her family had approached renowned coach Sandeep Gupta who had suggested they switch Manika to Hans Raj Model School where he used to run his academy.
- In her teenage years, she had received several offers to work as a model but she had turned them down. When she was 16 years old, she had declined a scholarship to train at former table tennis champion Peter Karlsson’s academy in Sweden.
- At the 2016 South Asian Games, she had won 3 ‘Gold’ medals in 3 events but was denied a 4th by compatriot Mouma Das who defeated her in the final of the women’s singles event.
- At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, she had led the Indian women’s team to a historic ‘Gold’ medal after they had upset 4-time ‘Gold’ medalists Singapore in the final. The enormity of the feat was highlighted by the fact that the Singapore women’s table tennis team had never lost in the Commonwealth Games since the sport was inducted into the competition in 2002.
- At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she had become the first Indian ever to reach the 3rd round in the table tennis singles event.
Featured Image by Manika Batra / Instagram