20 July 2024
2024 has been packed with fascinating stories on the pro table tennis scene, with eye-catching developments taking place across the entire WTT event pyramid. Amongst the names on this season’s list of event champions so far is that of Sreeja Akula, whose stock has risen to impressive new heights in a breakthrough year for the Indian star.
A regular at WTT recognised events since the first-ever WTT Series event held in Doha back in early 2021, the rise of Sreeja Akula over the past three and a half years has awakened new interest from Indian shores.
One of the fastest growing regions in the sport, Indian table tennis has been booming over the past decade, with Manika Batra’s magical run to Commonwealth Games gold inspiring India’s women to live out their dreams, and that includes Akula.
Manika Batra has been an inspirational figure for aspiring Indian players ever since her golden moment at the Commonwealth Games.
Sporting long-pimples on her racket just like Batra, predominantly Akula is known for her expertise in the block and counter game. But she’s not afraid to raise the stakes herself, unleashing a punishing top-spin attack whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ranked at No.150 in the world on her WTT Series debut in March 2021, Akula has steadily risen through the ranks, chalking off the Top 100, Top 50 and Top 30 milestones along the way.
However, Akula’s ascent has accelerated at a dramatic rate in 2024, finding a whole new level to her game in what has been a breakthrough season on the world stage.
It didn’t take long for Akula to put her name amongst the headlines, making history as the first Indian player to lift a WTT event Women’s Singles trophy at WTT Feeder Corpus Christi 2024 in January. She’d go on to match that effort two months later, beating Sarah De Nutte to the honours in Beirut.
Also banking her best finish on the WTT Star Contender stage with an impressive run to the quarterfinals on home soil in Goa, Akula’s first half of the year has been nothing short of exceptional, and her proudest achievement of all came a little under a month ago.
Celebrating another historic win at WTT Contender Lagos 2024 as the first-ever Indian player to strike Women’s Singles title success on the WTT Series, Akula climbed 19 spots off the back of her stunning week in Lagos, reaching the lofty heights of World No.24 to equal Manika Batra’s personal best ranking.
Title success in Lagos propelled Sreeja Akula to new heights in the ITTF Table Tennis World Rankings.
Inspired by the sight of one of India’s trailblazing figures claiming gold six years ago on the Gold Coast, half a decade on and Akula now commands the respect and expectation that accompanies the honour of being the highest-ranked Indian player in the world standings.
With Akula and Batra both ranked inside the World Top 30, it comes as no surprise that Indian expectations are at an all-time high heading into the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Flying the flag for India in the Women’s Singles discipline, Akula and Batra also spearhead the nation’s Women’s Team line-up as India eyes an unforgettable debut in the Team events.
Breathing new life into India’s historic rise as a table tennis powerhouse over the past six months, all eyes now turn to Paris as Sreeja Akula and Co. go all out in pursuit of Olympic glory.
With the dust settling in Thailand after another unforgettable week of drama at WTT Star Contender Bangkok 2024 , all eyes have turned to one player. From qualifying entry to finalist, Honoka Hashimoto stole the show in the Thai capital, outshining some of the sport’s biggest stars on her WTT Tour.
14 May 2024
Manika Batra (IND) | Women’s No.24 (+15, career best)
The headline stealing Manika Batra shocked the world by taking down the 2nd seeded Wang Manyu at Saudi Smash. It marked the best ever Women's Singles win for any Indian player. But Batra didn't stop there and continued to push further in the draw, making it all the way to the quarterfinal to bag 350pts. With her ranking also buoyed by plenty of quarterfinal and round of 16 finishes, consistency has paid off for the Indian superstar as she lands her first appearance inside the Top 25, the first woman from India ever to achieve the milestone.
8 May 2024
Manika Batra has become the first Indian player to reach the last eight of the Women’s Singles draw at a WTT Grand Smash event, after punching her ticket to the Saudi Smash 2024 quarterfinals with an excellent 3-0 victory over Nina Mittelham (11-6, 11-9, 11-7).
A player who had never won a Women’s Singles match on the WTT Grand Smash stage prior to Saudi Smash, Batra finally corrected that record last Saturday with a fine display against Andreea Dragoman, before going on to make headlines on Monday with her shock win over Singapore Smash 2024 champion Wang Manyu.
"I’m feeling really proud with myself that I played my best game today after beating Wang Manyu. That match was really important to me and I was happy and excited so I had to keep myself calm for this match. It really helped me in this match and I’m really happy I played my best game today." Manika Batra
To say Batra had all the confidence in the world heading into her round of 16 clash was an understatement, and Delhi’s finest could sense something special in the air as history beckoned.
First Batra had the small matter of dealing with a player she had never beaten on the world stage, with Nina Mittelham awaiting at the third hurdle. The German player had won all three of their previous meetings in the rivalry, and was chasing her first WTT Grand Smash quarterfinal ticket herself in the Women’s Singles discipline.
6 May 2024
Mima Ito found her groove at Saudi Smash as she cruised her way past Doo Hoi Kem 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-6) in the the round of 16 of the Women's Singles.
It was the twelfth international encounter between the pair, with the head-to-head standing at 7:4 in favour of Ito. Their last match came in the final of WTT Contender Amman 2023. On that occasion it was a walkover win to Ito, with Doo unable to compete due to injury. Today the match went in to full swing, but from the opening points it was Ito all the way.
Ito struck first, racing to an early lead in the opening game. Doo couldn't close the gap and it was one notch on the scoreboard to the World No.10.
"I went into the groove from the first game. I knew first games are very important and secured this one for certain." Mima Ito
Mima Ito was in cracking form as she held back Doo in style.
Doo went in to her well of experience as she tried to find a way back in to the match. Having spent more than decade of her career inside the world's Top 50, the Hong Kong, China stalwart wasn't going to be pushed aside. Doo kept things level, going toe-to-toe in the rallies to even edge ahead for a 5-3 lead in the second game. But that is when Ito found another gear.
"I’m in great form myself. As my opponent might change her approach and leave me unsure of how to respond, I executed my game solidly while observing her actions closely." Mima Ito
The Japanese star took the reins and didn't hold back. With the deft hands of a magician, Ito nullified any advantage Doo had on her serves. The four-time WTT Series champion took seven consecutive points and eventually the game.
Doo's service problems kept coming in the face of a fruit salad's worth of strawberry and banana receives. By the time Ito had scored the third game and closed out the match, Doo had won just seven points in total on service.
6 May 2024
Manika Batra is through to the last 16 of the Women’s Singles draw at Saudi Smash 2024 after pulling off an almighty upset on Monday afternoon, sending Wang Manyu to an early exit (6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10).
Celebrating a significant title win at Singapore Smash 2024 in March, Wang was going for back-to-back successes on the WTT Grand Smash stage, but would instead leave King Abdullah Sports City with regret.
Prevailing in all five of her previous clashes against Batra, the early indications in their sixth encounter all pointed towards another routine win for Wang as the World No.2 powered through the opening game at a rate of knots.
A player who had never previously won a main draw match at a WTT Grand Smash event prior to this week, Delhi’s golden girl Batra couldn’t have had greater odds stacked against her on Monday, but a response in game two suddenly changed the mood as the Indian player asked the question of her rival.
Tension filled Infinity ∞ Arena as any suggestions of a quick three games and done for Wang evaporated, and mild annoyance soon turned to serious concern for the Singapore Smash champ as Batra bagged game three to take the lead for the first time.
9 April 2024
Luka Mladenovic (LUX) | Men’s No.118 (+39, career best)
Very much a ranked outsider heading into the action in Otocec and Varazdin, Luka Mladenovic sent a message to any doubters, not once but twice. Appearing in his first Men’s Singles semifinal at last month’s WTT Feeder Beirut II, Mladenovic would go on a stunning run to match that effort in Otocec before taking down top seed Kao Cheng-Jui on his way to a quarterfinal finish in Varazdin. Mladenovic has climbed 89 ranking spots in the last 28 days and now has his sights firmly set on the world's Top 100.
26 March 2024
Xia Lian Ni (LUX) | Women’s No.42 (+17)
Continuing to mix it on the pro scene at the age of 60, age-defying superstar Xia Lian Ni is the living embodiment of the phrase “age is just a number”. Brushing aside a talented crop of players all 20+ years her junior on her way to the Women’s Singles title at the first WTT Feeder event of last week, Ni jumps 17 positions in Week 13’s rankings, returning to the World Top 50 after a four-week spell outside the group.
Sreeja Akula (IND) | Women’s No.40 (+7, career best)
Adding to a special week for Indian table tennis, Sreeja Akula also found herself amongst the headlines in Beirut, clinching her second Women’s Singles trophy of the year with a stellar display at WTT Feeder Beirut II. Trending in an encouraging direction, the 25-year-old breaks into the World Top 40 for the first time, just two places back from the highest-ranked Indian star in the Women’s Singles standings, Manika Batra.
13 March 2024
Sreeja Akula and Chuang Chih-Yuan celebrated a weekend to remember after coming away with the respective singles titles at WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024 on Sunday 24 March, bringing an action-packed week in the Lebanese capital to an exciting conclusion.
The second of two WTT Feeder Series events to be held during the week, WTT Feeder Beirut II offered players who fell short earlier in the week another shot at glory, an opportunity Akula and Chuang took full advantage of.
Lifting her first WTT Feeder event Women’s Singles trophy earlier this season in Corpus Christi, Akula encountered her fair share of bumps on her path to the final in Beirut, surviving a quarterfinal scare against Liu Hsing-Yin (11-4, 3-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6) before taking down WTT Feeder Beirut I finalist Suh Hyo Won one round later (11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 13-11).
Akula would find herself in hot water early on against Sarah De Nutte in the final itself, facing the prospect of a two-game deficit at 9-10 down in game two. But the Indian star kept her cool, saving the game before adding two more to her tally to complete an impressive come from behind win (6-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9).
9 Januaray 2024
The first WTT Feeder Series event of the year has seen Sreeja Akula come up trumps, taking down her maiden WTT Women's Singles title.
Coming in to WTT Feeder Corpus Christi 2024 as the 5th seed, Sreeja pushed her way through the pack in style. The World No.94 even eliminated top seed Amy Wang in a full-distance thriller in the quarterfinal stage.
In the final, the 25-year-old from Indian faced 2nd seed Lily Zhang along with the hometown crowd the USA star brought with her to the court. In what was a first-time meeting between the pair, Akula kept a clean scoreboard to take the title, winning in straight games (11-6, 18-16, 11-5).
It was the second game that proved crucial in the underdog's run. Zhang was staring down the barrel of two game points when trailing 8-10. But holding her nerve, the World No.46 scored three times in succession. The local now held a chance to draw even on the scoreboard.
It was from there things went in to overdrive. Zhang racked up a total of five game points but was unable to convert on any of them. Meanwhile, Sreeja finally closed out the game on her fourth attempt.