Manika Batra becomes the first Indian player to go to the quarterfinals in table tennis.

As the first Indian to compete in the individual table tennis competition at the Asian Games 2023, Manika Batra made history on Friday. Suthasini Sawettabut of Thailand was defeated by Batra 4-2.

Shortly 

• Suthasini Sawettabut of Thailand was upset by Manika in a thrilling round of 16 matchup.
• Wang Yidi and Manika will now square off in the quarterfinals.
• China's Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin defeated Achanta Sharath Kamal and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 0-3 in their match.

At the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, Manika Batra created history by reaching the women's table tennis quarterfinals. In a thrilling round of 16 matchup on Friday, she defeated Thailand's Suthasini Sawettabut, winning 4-2 (11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6). Batra was able to win the next two sets after the first four sets ended in a tight deadlock at 2-2.

With the victory, Batra also made history by becoming the first Indian singles player to go to the Asian Games quarterfinals in table tennis. She will now compete against Wang Yidi for a medal and a spot in the semifinals.

In contrast, the Indian team's results in their round of 16 matches in the men's competition were inconsistent. Chinese players Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin defeated Achanta Sharath Kamal and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 0-3 (5-11, 4-11, 7-11). However, against Singapore's Yew En Koen Pang and Izaac Quek Yong, Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Manav Vikash Thakkar prevailed 3-2 (3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8) in a hard-fought match. In the quarterfinals, they will play top seeds Woojin Jang and Jonghoon Lim.