Manika Batra had a fairly uncluttered method going into her first match towards China’s world No 7 Chen Xingtong on the Asian Cup in Bangkok.
“Chinese language gamers ko aap (ball) daal ke toh nahi jeet sakte ho (you possibly can’t win towards a Chinese language participant by simply getting the ball again in play),” Manika mentioned. “So, I needed to assault.”
Assault she did. Armed with that clear mindset and a crisp forehand, Manika swept previous Chen, Chinese language Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu and, on Saturday, Japanese world No 6 Hina Hayata 4-2 for a outstanding bronze from the celebrated particular person occasion contested between Asia’s high 16.
The Forty fourth-ranked Manika additionally put up a spirited combat towards Japanese world No 5 and Tokyo Video games bronze medallist Mima Ito in a 2-4 (8-11, 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 11-8, 7-11) semi-final defeat earlier on Saturday. She shortly regrouped to dismantle Hayata 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10, 4-11, 11-2, changing into the primary Indian girl to medal on the occasion.
“It is a actually vital medal. My most memorable event, I might say,” Manika mentioned from the Thai capital. “Enjoying towards these high gamers is a problem in itself, and defeating them is particular. It was my greatest efficiency.”
The sort that hadn’t been on show for some time now. Extra obviously so on the key occasions this 12 months—Commonwealth Video games (CWG) and World Group Desk Tennis Championships. The 2022 CWG particularly, the place she went from 4 medals in 2018 to none, upset her. But, as an alternative of sulking for too lengthy she swung again into coaching.
Greater than something on the desk although, it was one thing inside her the place Manika felt the most important change from a couple of months in the past.
“Particularly after the CWG, I learnt loads of issues, on and off the desk. I labored lots on issues, particularly my thoughts. I’m being lots calm now. On this event, I used to be having fun with my sport once more, having fun with each level that I used to be enjoying. That was most vital,” Manika mentioned.
A free thoughts additionally helped unlock her sport. These deadly flat forehands confirmed up once more on the Asian Cup, flattening the would possibly of two top-10 gamers and the Twenty third-ranked Chen towards whom Manika had collected simply 19 factors within the staff worlds final month.
It wasn’t, nonetheless, an in a single day transformation, or just a case of activating the assault mode. Manika tried to repair the items by way of the season, just for them to maintain falling aside.
“I used to be attacking much more on this event. I’ve been engaged on that and plenty of different facets for a while now. Woh bahut saare tournaments mein aa nahi raha tha pehle (it wasn’t taking place within the tournaments earlier than). Right here, every part got here collectively.
“The 2 standouts have been my preventing spirit and the attacking sport I performed right here. That confidence in me is coming again once more. I’m actually completely satisfied about that. In fact, it’s nonetheless work in progress, however I’m completely satisfied it’s in the proper route,” she mentioned.
Her grit and charm shone the preventing shows on Saturday. Within the second sport of the semi-final towards Ito, Manika erased a 5-2 deficit, stitched seven factors on the bounce and sealed the sport with a backhand winner, twiddling the racquet in her trademark model. Up 2-1 within the match towards southpaw Hayata, Manika saved 4 sport factors to grab the slipping fourth sport and swell her lead.
“What I actually appreciated about me right here was that I used to be actually calm on each level, preventing for every ball—whether or not it’s at 3-2, 3-3 or 9-9. That happy me lots; it’s one thing I’ve leant from this event and need to proceed going ahead,” she mentioned.
Trying again, although, did she truly consider she may script this unlikely story within the presence of those Asian stalwarts?
“I had the idea. However there was no actual thought in my thoughts that I’ll beat these gamers and go on to win a bronze medal. My solely considering was that I’ve to play my greatest sport and execute what I’ve labored on right here. I did that, and I received the bronze!” Manika mentioned, smiling.
This story has been revealed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.