Manika Batra reads a motivating book before every TT match, but she can't quite recall the title of it. "Ek moti-si kitaab hai," she says of the 280 pages, which is exactly how she finds it to be effective. A large book.
India's most famous table tennis player, who strives for both glamour and self-control in her life, isn't trying to seem especially deep in her remarks prior to the Olympics in Paris. For twenty years, her pragmatist slogan has been, "I know my dreams." That's why I get up every day and give them my all.”
Over the course of her 15-year playing career, she has been involved in numerous selection-related and copy-paste-related scandals. At the most recent Olympics, she was even denied personal coaching. Accepting abuse directed towards India's female athletes, despite their repeated misinterpretations,
She has been called selfish for not supporting the squad when she once declined to ruin a match that would have allowed one more Indian to qualify. But at 29, she has at last found a squad and a coaching setup that she is happy with before traveling to Paris. "I don't concentrate on critiques. I don't use social media frequently. "I don't browse timelines," the woman declares. Manika is merely hesitant to share her feelings, which others may seem reclusive.
Things have been going well at the table as she defeated Chinese player Wang Manyu, coming in second only to colleagues Ayhika Mukherjee and Sreeja Akula who secured Top 3 finishes. The reason India is prospering is not particular. We're all working really hard, and our anxiety of playing against Chinese guys has somewhat subsided. People think we can defeat anyone," she continues.
Manika, a native of Delhi, adopted her parents' tall stature—mother Sushma is 5'6 1/2′′ and father 5'11′′—by following her older sister and brother into the sport. After working as a housewife for a while, Sushma opened and operated a fashion business. When most parents encouraged their children to become physicians or CAs fifteen years ago, I was questioned why she was wasting her time playing sports. However, I've always believed that sports have promise," Sushma says. "I was aware of Kar Jaaegi's skill at table tennis. (She'll succeed in sports). I had a great time playing badminton during our school's sports session, although I was never very good at it. I'm currently pursuing my passion through my daughter," she continues.
Their finances were challenged by a changing family and Sushma's growing athletic career, but Sushma's in-laws provided full support in a busy Punjabi home. There were difficulties, and I wasn't always sure if I should keep her TT going. She was obstinate, though. We had difficult days when we couldn't get the equipment we needed to go. A decade ago, the sport didn't really have a following, so there were really hard days. However, because things are going well right now, I consciously want to put the difficult moments behind me," the mother says.
Manika was the youngest and was lavished with attention from everyone; nevertheless, when the child developed a disciplined streak, her mother realized that things were becoming serious with TT. "I sternly informed her that work cannot be a means of passing the time and that you must respect the career path you choose. She also learned to maintain her optimism in every circumstance, which comes in handy when she faces obstacles outside of the dining room. Being Punjabis, we are unfazed by the highs and lows of life. Sushma maintains, "She learned to let go of the negative and have a 100% nature, no half-hearted things."
Sushma predicted early on that a daughter who was normally outgoing could become withdrawn due to setbacks. "At home, she talks a lot. but would take early losses very harshly. I had to comfort her when she faced setbacks. I would thus advise her that, in the same way that winning makes you ecstatic, it should also make your opponents happy. Thus, it's acceptable to give them a few victories," the mother remembers telling her tough-on-herself child.
Manika became a huge fan of Virat Kohli in the past ten years because of his really relatable Delhi persona. It's a result of the way he responds to everything that occurs to him and his fervor for coming out on top. and how much he likes to play cricket," Manika remarks.
The laborious repetitions for elite athletics required effort to perfect for a boisterous Punjabi who would spontaneously burst into a dance to whatever percussions wafted into her ears and dart from one distraction to the next. She spent the last year working on her forehand, which was her previous weakness.
Four years after being dubbed Indian TT's golden girl, she ended up in a turbulent 2022 CWG, having languished throughout the epidemic years. "Working on a single task used to be difficult for my thinking. My brain hurt from simply doing the same thing for seven or eight hours. I started doing breathing exercises because of this," she explains.
It was necessary to control the excitement and impulsive inclinations in multiple ways. "I used to really enjoy Chhole Bhature. As a Punjabi, I adore cuisine. and also indulged in sweets. However, I automatically quit enjoying sweets when TT took precedence. It's more salads now that I don't feel like eating it alone," she remarks.
Sushma saw Manika down to bland fiber and protein. "She enjoys paneer bhurji, daal maakhni, poha, and daliya, but we talk about food more than she does when she wants to win," Sushma chuckles.
After a defeat, the mother bit back the emotional advise after riding the outcomes roller coaster. "Her TT is interwoven with my life. My heartbeat quickens and my hands start to shake, especially as she's closing matches. However, I can't shut my eyes—I have to look, even if I start talking gibberish," she declares.
Manika, who defeated top Chinese player Wang Manyu at Saudi SMAASH last month, is ecstatic about the recent upswing in performances. At a critical point, she was behind 8–10, but she stunned her opponent with an unexpected, practiced twiddle switch of the paddle. "I was expecting the Chinese to turn, but I didn't anticipate me to fiddle around." To be honest, I was actually extremely good, and it was really impressive to watch. Punch happy, "I watched the clips five or six times, and the entire match on my flight back." The defeat robbed the highly anticipated Manyu a spot on the Chinese team, and Manika will not be taken lightly as a threat in the Olympics, even though India's hardly ever
Manika has learned to appreciate her personal interests. Music by Diljit Dosanjh. purchasing clothing. "I constantly feel like my closet is lacking in clothes. So occasionally, she says frankly, "shopping jaake paise udaake aa jaati hoo (blow some money)."
Her work dictates her taste in movies; her favorites are Chak de! and Iqbal. "I guess I just enjoy sports-related movies. I genuinely enjoy the Ranveer-Alia combination, but these days I hardly remember anything about what's happening on screen, the plot, or the conversation. Glazing over most films, she says, "I just like watching the actors."
Even when she reads aloud, the words in books just seem to glide by. Not only does she not judge books by their covers, but she also hardly remembers the titles, concentrating exclusively on the portions that prepare her for a match. The thick book may be titled Champions Mind, and it's possible that she unintentionally discovered what sports nerds refer to as a player's "zone."
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