Sreeja Akula injury

Indian table tennis star Sreeja Akula has been ruled out of the upcoming Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 season due to a stress fracture, requiring a six-week rest period recommended by her doctor. The 26-year-old, who recently competed in the Paris Olympics and made history alongside Manika Batra by reaching the round of 16 in individual events, will be replaced by U19 Youth National Champion Nithyashree Mani for the Jaipur Patriots franchise. Akula is recognized as the highest-ranked player in India and has won multiple titles, including gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and two golds at the 2019 South Asian Games. The UTT 2024 season is set to take place from August 22 to September 7 in Chennai, featuring eight teams and 48 players. Akula expressed her disappointment in a statement regarding her inability to participate in the tournament due to her injury.