FILE PHOTO: Manika Batra defeated Japan’s Miyuu Kihara for the first time in the pair’s third meeting. | Photo Credit: PTI
FILE PHOTO: Manika Batra defeated Japan’s Miyuu Kihara for the first time in the pair’s third meeting. | Photo Credit: PTI
Two-time Olympian Manika Batra shocked sixth seed Miyuu Kihara of Japan to reach the second round of the WTT Contender event in Taiyuan, China, on Thursday.
World No. 49 Manika defeated World No. 25 Kihara 3-2 (11-8, 10-12, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7) in 43 minutes to set up a round-of-16 clash against Miu Hirano, another Japanese paddler currently ranked 36th in the ITTF Rankings.
Manika led 6-2 in the second game after bagging the opener easily. However, Kihara managed to fight back, saving two game points before levelling the match.
The Japanese player was on her way to steal the third game as well as she won three points in a row from 8-10 down but this time, the Indian held her nerve to eventually take a 2-1 lead in the fixture.
— World Table Tennis (@WTTGlobal) April 9, 2026
Kihara edged out Manika in a closely-fought fourth game, forcing a decider.
From 3-3 in the fifth game, Manika dictated terms and converted her first match point to secure her maiden win over Kihara in their third meeting.
Published on Apr 09, 2026
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