Manika eyes glory in Asian Games

Sunny Kaul 

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 9  

A lot has been spoken about the pimpled-rubber that Manika Batra uses to fox her opponents on the table, but beware, if you are thinking you have sorted out her technique post the Commonwealth Games, you might be in for a surprise. The Delhi paddler is equipping her armoury with some new weapons to meet the challenge from the mighty Chinese and the Koreans at the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia. 

"After the Commonwealth, players have started to read the long-pimple rubber on my backhand and they are practicing on that. I will make some adjustments to my game so that if they make me play at a certain position I'm ready to counter them. But I'll not tell what I'm working on," says a bubbly Manika.  

Upcoming challenges

The young paddler won a historic gold at the Gold Coast Games after beating world No. 4 Feng Tianwei in a pulsating final. However, she is aware of the competition on offer at Jakarta and is not relying on her past achievements to warrant success in the Asian Games.      

"Asian Games, the level of competition is different. All the Asian paddlers, the Chinese… will be there. But then even I have this thing in mind that I have to compete with them and beat them, so I'm practicing hard with my coach and working out on the ways to beat them. I will just go there and give my best, if I get a medal, nothing like that," says Manika, who is currently competing in the National Table Tennis Championship (North Zone) here. 

Increased attention

The 22-year-old, though, is overwhelmed by the recognition that she has drawn after her success in the Gold Coast and the way it has helped the table tennis grow as a sport in the country.  "It's amazing because it never used to happen with the table tennis earlier…Only Sharath bhaya was there, so I think I made that (difference)…now people know table tennis and they are following me and they are treating me as a role model. It's an amazing feeling." 

Does the high degree of attention bring any pressure on her? "No, there is no pressure, not at all. I'm enjoying it. It's not pressure, it's like your fans are following you and they are supporting you. But yes, peoples' expectations have increased and so have our responsibilities," Manika's reply is interrupted by some young fans who rush for an autograph and a selfie with their favourite player. 

"We will be going to the Asian Games in some time and people would expect us to do good there also. However, when I will be playing there, my focus will be on giving my best. I won't be thinking that people are expecting me to win so I should win. I will just try and give my 100 per cent," she adds.

Lucky charm

Though Manika solely relies on her skills to beat the best in the business, she doesn't hesitate revealing her lucky charm --- a set of ear rings --- which she wears during the tournaments.   

"I have a set of ear rings which I wear during the matches," she says when asked whether she has any superstitions like most of the other players. Where you wearing those while competing with Feng? "Yes, I was wearing them," she reveals with a smile on her face.