India’s top-ranked women’s table tennis player Manika Batra suffered an early exit at the WTT Champions Yokohama 2025, going down in straight games to Australia’s Yangzi Liu in the Round of 32.
The match ended 0–3 in favor of Liu, marking the second consecutive head-to-head loss for Batra against the rising Australian star.
Despite a spirited performance, Batra was unable to gain the upper hand in key moments and ultimately bowed out of one of the most prestigious tournaments in the WTT calendar. Her loss followed a strong run in Brazil earlier this season, where she reached the quarterfinals of the WTT Star Contender Foz do Iguaçu, before falling to Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto.
Yangzi Liu Outplays Manika Batra
In Thursday’s Round of 32 clash, Yangzi Liu displayed precision, composure, and attacking flair to seal a straight-game victory over Batra. Though the 3–0 scoreline may suggest dominance, the games were tightly contested, with long rallies and several deuce situations. Batra pushed Liu to the edge in many exchanges, but the Australian proved superior in execution at crucial moments.
This match marked their second encounter on the international stage, with Liu now leading the head-to-head 2–0. Their growing rivalry highlights the increasing depth in women’s table tennis, particularly from emerging nations like Australia.
For Batra, it was a missed opportunity to advance into the top 16 in a field stacked with Olympic medallists and top-20 ranked players. However, her performance, especially in earlier tournaments this year, continues to signal her consistency on the world stage, even if major breakthroughs remain elusive.
Manika’s Season So Far: A Mixed Bag of Results
For Manika Batra, the early exit in Yokohama is a minor stumble in an otherwise solid season. She began 2025 with a semifinal appearance at the WTT Feeder Beirut and followed that up with a top-eight finish in Brazil.
In Foz do Iguaçu, Batra faced Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto, known for her chopper-style defensive game, in the quarterfinals. The fourth-seeded Japanese star outplayed Batra in a tactical encounter, ending India’s hopes of a podium finish. Despite the defeat, it marked Batra’s best finish in a WTT Star Contender event this year.
The Indian paddler, currently ranked just outside the world’s top 40, has been working on refining her transition game moving from defense to attack and this season has shown flashes of improved footwork and variation in spin. However, consistency remains a key area to improve, especially in high-pressure matches against top-50 opponents.
Liu vs Wang Yidi: Clash of Momentum and Experience
Yangzi Liu’s next challenge is a Round of 16 showdown with Chinese powerhouse Wang Yidi, a multiple-time WTT finalist and a core part of China’s World Championship-winning squads. Wang, ranked inside the world’s top 5, enters the match as the favorite, but Liu’s fearless playing style and growing confidence might just cause a stir.
Manika Batra Set to Compete at WTT Champions Yokohama 2025: Faces Yangzi Liu in First Round
Wang Yidi’s strength lies in her speed, counters, and unrelenting pressure at the table a test Liu has yet to fully face in her career. But the Australian’s recent form and tactical discipline have made her one of the breakout players of the season.
A win for Liu would be historic for Australian table tennis, potentially making her the first Australian woman in decades to reach the quarterfinals of a WTT Champions-level event.
The WTT Champions Yokohama is shaping up to be a display of Asian supremacy, with players from Japan, China, and South Korea dominating the early rounds. With the tournament being held in Japan, local stars like Harimoto, Hina Hayata, and Mima Ito have enjoyed strong support and look determined to deliver for the home crowd.
While the result was not in her favor, Manika Batra’s early exit at Yokohama 2025 should not overshadow the larger strides she has made this season. The losses to Yangzi Liu serve as a reality check, but also an opportunity to assess areas for improvement as she builds toward major events like the Asian Championships and the 2026 World Team Championships.
For Indian fans, the hope remains that Batra can rediscover her best form in time for the second half of the season. As for Yangzi Liu, all eyes will be on her blockbuster clash with Wang Yidi, where she will look to continue Australia’s rise in world table tennis.
