Table tennis player Manika Batra has been signed on as the latest brand athlete by Bengaluru-based fitness and sportswear company Boldfit. The move comes weeks after the company brought cricketer Arshdeep Singh on board, signalling an expansion of its focus to non-mainstream sports such as table tennis and pickleball.
About Manika Batra
Batra, currently India’s top-ranked women’s table tennis player, is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and an Olympian. Her association with Boldfit is expected to include the development of co-branded table tennis merchandise.Known for her aggressive playing style and signature long-pimpled rubber, Batra has been instrumental in raising the profile of table tennis in India. She was also the first Indian woman to reach the round of 32 in Olympic table tennis.
In a statement, Batra said the association aligned with her approach to the sport. “I’ve always had to make bold moves to stay true to the sport I love and showing up with consistency. So this partnership felt natural,” she said.
Company’s athlete strategy takes shape
Boldfit’s founder, Pallav Bihani, said Batra’s induction was in line with the brand’s broader plan to support athletes across emerging sports. “Manika represents everything we stand for – resilience, boldness and a relentless drive to move forward,” he said in a statement issued by the company.
KL Rahul, a Boldfit athlete and investor, also commented on the development, calling Batra’s journey “inspiring.” The company said the collaboration with Batra goes beyond brand endorsement, with plans to introduce table tennis merchandise as part of the partnership.
Founded in 2018, Boldfit manufactures athletic wear and fitness equipment. The company has recently focused on onboarding athletes across sports categories, a shift from the cricket-centric approach typically seen in Indian sports branding.