Sreeja Akula pulled off a gritty win over fellow Indian star Manika Batra in a thrilling Round of 64 women’s singles match at the Europe Smash 2025 on Monday. In a contest that lasted nearly 45 minutes, Sreeja emerged victorious 3-2 (5-11, 11-9, 15-13, 10-12, 11-8), securing her place in the next round of the competition.
The high-intensity match saw momentum swing repeatedly, with both players pushing each other to the limit. The opening game was tightly poised at 5-5, but Manika stormed ahead, reeling off six consecutive points to take the early lead. Sreeja, however, responded in kind during the second game, pulling ahead just when it mattered to level the match at 1-1.
The turning point came in the third game, where Sreeja showcased immense composure. After saving two game points, she turned the tables on Manika to win 15-13 and move ahead for the first time in the match. But Manika wasn’t done yet. In the fourth game, she strung together five straight points to gain control. Although Sreeja caught up at 10-10, Manika managed to take the game 12-10 and force a deciding fifth set.
With both players digging deep, the final game was a test of nerves and endurance. Sreeja managed to hold her ground in the closing exchanges and edged ahead to clinch the match 11-8, progressing to the next round in impressive fashion.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles category, Manav Thakkar also produced a confident performance to defeat Japan’s Hiroto Shinozuka 3-1 (12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9) and book his place in the Round of 32. Thakkar dominated early, winning the first two games with precise placements and consistent rallies. Although Shinozuka struck back in the third, Thakkar regained control in the fourth to seal the match.
With Sreeja’s hard-fought win and Thakkar’s strong showing, Indian paddlers are off to a promising start at the Europe Smash 2025, setting the tone for what could be an exciting campaign in both singles draws.
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