Manika Batra faced a tough challenge in the Round of 16 at the Paris Olympics, ultimately falling to Japan’s eighth seed, Miu Hirano. The match saw moments of intense competition but ended in a 4-1 victory for Hirano.
First Game: Miu Dominates Early
The opening game set the tone, with Hirano racing to an 11-6 win. Despite a brief fightback from Manika, who narrowed the gap to 5-6, Hirano’s powerful play proved too strong, securing the first game comfortably.
Second Game: Close but Not Enough
Manika put up a stronger defense in the second game, managing to level the scores at 9-9 by inviting unforced errors from Hirano. However, the Japanese player’s attacking prowess prevailed, and she clinched the game 11-9, taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
Third Game: A Thrilling Comeback
The third game was a nail-biter. Manika started strong, jumping to a 7-2 lead. Hirano fought back to level the score at 9-9, but Manika dug deep, saving three game points before winning the game 14-12. This victory brought some hope for the Indian fans.
Fourth Game: Hirano Regains Control
Despite a slow start in the fourth game, Manika managed to recover from 2-6 to level the scores at 6-6. However, Hirano pulled away towards the end, taking the game 11-8 and leading the match 3-1.
Final Game: Hirano Seals the Victory
In the decisive fifth game, Hirano maintained her dominance, closing out the match with an 11-6 win. Manika’s efforts to cut down on unforced errors and build momentum were not enough to overcome the Japanese star.