News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/26th April 2024
Sreeja Akula, the Commonwealth Games mixed doubles champion, made headlines on Tuesday as she claimed the coveted title of the top-ranked Indian woman table tennis player. Her ascent to the pinnacle of Indian women’s table tennis came with a career-high ranking of 38 in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Chart, displacing the erstwhile leader, Manika Batra.
In the latest rankings update, Sreeja clinched one spot higher, while Manika, who had long held the mantle of India’s premier table tennis player, slid down two places to 39.
The 25-year-old Sreeja has been enjoying a stellar year thus far, marked by remarkable victories and strong performances. She secured victories at the WTT Feeder Corpus Christi and WTT Feeder Beirut tournaments in January and March, respectively. Additionally, Sreeja’s commendable performance propelled her to the quarterfinals of the WTT Star Contender event held in Goa.
Sreeja’s crowning achievement came at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she clinched the gold medal in the mixed doubles event alongside the veteran Sharath Kamal.
Meanwhile, Yashaswini Ghorpade and Archana Kamath maintained their positions at the 99th and 100th spots, respectively, in the ITTF rankings.
In the men’s category, Sharath Kamal continued to assert his dominance as the top-ranked Indian male player, holding steady at the 37th spot in the rankings. G Sathiyan and Manav Thakkar, on the other hand, exchanged places, with Sathiyan ascending to the 60th spot and Thakkar slipping to 61st.
However, the descent of the national champion, Harmeet Desai, has been noticeable as he dropped to the 64th spot in the rankings. Desai, who once held the title of the top-ranked Indian player, has experienced a decline in his rankings in recent months.
Despite individual fluctuations in rankings, India has already secured qualification for the team events at the upcoming Paris Olympics. The final two singles entries in the men’s and women’s singles categories for the Olympics will be determined by the Table Tennis Federation of India. The selections will be made by May 16, considering the world rankings at that time.
Sreeja Akula’s remarkable rise to the top of Indian women’s table tennis is a testament to her dedication, skill, and consistent performance on the international stage. As she assumes the mantle of India’s leading female table tennis player, she carries the hopes and aspirations of the nation’s table tennis enthusiasts. Her achievements serve as inspiration for aspiring athletes and underscore the growing prominence of Indian table tennis on the global platform.
With India’s table tennis contingent gearing up for the Paris Olympics, Sreeja’s stellar form and newfound status as the top-ranked Indian woman player bode well for the country’s prospects on the international stage. As the countdown to the Olympics begins, all eyes will be on Sreeja and her compatriots as they aim to make their mark on the grandest stage of them all.
