It is now time for changes and shuffles. Ace Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has switched her mixed doubles partner. Batra and G Sathiyan have parted ways as Manika now will pair up with Manav Thakkar in the mixed doubles. The move comes after the duo failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024.
It has been a good choice from Manika Batra. The young 24-year old paddler is the second highest ranked Indian in the world. Only after Sharath Kamal (38), Manav is ranked 57 in the world.
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For the past 3 years, the pair of Batra and Sathiyan have been magnificent. The duo entered the world top 5 rankings. They went on to reach the Round of 16 in Asian Games, before coming close but faltering to meet the Paris Olympics qualifications.
“Manika and I couldn’t qualify for the Olympics, but I think we did a commendable job. I think Manika was one of the best partners to play with without any doubt, but we mutually decided it was time to try out other partners,” Sathiyan told The Indian Express.
As for Sathiyan, he will now go on to pair with Sreeja Akula who is India’s top ranked player in the world. “She (Sreeja) has a style similar to Manika and we played a couple of tournaments and did well. She’s currently the country’s best player, so it was an obvious choice for me,” Sathiyan added.
Previously, Sathiyan had paired with Archana Kamath. But the latter decided to quit Table Tennis altogether after Paris Olympics 2024. She now has her aim to continue her studies in USA.
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