Manika Batra surprised world No. 18 and French favourite Prithika Pavade to deliver India's best show in table tennis by becoming the first Indian paddler to reach the last 16 stage in the Olympic Games. Prithika, of Indian origin, was born in Paris a year after her parents shifted to France in 2003.
On her way to achieve the historic feat, the 29-year-old Manika gave a ruthless display of backhand play and handed the French paddler an early exit from the women's singles with a straight 4-0 win.
