Sreeja Akula Advances to Olympic Pre-Quarterfinals

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian table tennis players Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula have both advanced to the women's singles pre-quarterfinals, marking a historic achievement for the nation in Olympic table tennis. Batra, who made history by becoming the first Indian paddler to reach the Round of 16, defeated Great Britain's Anna Hursey and 12th seed Prithika Pavade. Akula secured her spot by overcoming Singapore's Jian Zeng in a closely contested match, winning 4-2 after losing the first game. Both players are now set to face tough opponents in the next round, with Batra up against Japan's Miu Hirano and Akula facing China's top seed Sun Yingsha. This achievement raises hopes for India, as no Indian has ever medaled in table tennis at the Olympics. Overall, India's performance in the Olympics has also included two bronze medals, contributing to a growing sense of optimism for future events.