Manika Batra became the first Indian table tennis player to reach the Round of 16 in the Olympics singles competition after thrashing higher-ranked Prithika Pavade of France in Paris on Monday.
The 29-year-old 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist beat the 19-year Pavade, whose parents were originally from Puducherry before shifting to France in 2003, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7.
Prithika's was born in a Paris suburb a year later.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Manika emerged the first women's table tennis player from India to make it to the Round of 32 in singles.
She did one step better than that on Monday.
The 19-year-old Prithika made a first-round exit at the Tokyo Olympics but has improved considerably since then. She is currently ranked world No. 18 while the Indian is No. 28.
Achanta Sharath Kamal had also reached the Round of 32 in men's singles in the Tokyo Olympics.
"I am happy that I beat a French player in Paris. I defeated a higher-ranked player.
"I did not think of creating history and making the pre-quarters. There are more rounds, I will take it match by match and give my best as I always do," Manika said after her match.
Her ploy to attack Prithika's backhand proved effective but that was not the strategy she devised before the match.
"I had planned to play to her forehand, as discussed with my coach, but I was getting the points on her backhand, so I did not change the tactics.
"I did play a few shot on her forehand too, I did not want her to think that I am playing only on her backhand.
"It was a tough match. Staying relaxed helps me both on and off the court. I do breathing exercises that help me during the match.
"I will give my best whoever I play against in the next round," she said.
