India’s table tennis torchbearer Manika Batra is set to make another appearance at the elite WTT Champions Series, this time in Yokohama, Japan, from 7th to 11th August 2025.
The tournament, featuring the world’s top 32 women’s players, marks a crucial opportunity for Manika to continue her trailblazing journey in global table tennis.
Currently ranked World No. 52, Manika enters the draw through her consistent form and rising stature, and she begins her campaign against World No. 34 Yangzi Liu of Australia a familiar and formidable opponent.
A Draw That Opens Possibility
Manika’s placement in the draw sees her paired in the bottom half, with a potential path toward another quarterfinal a stage she reached for the first time in WTT Champions Montpellier 2024, becoming the first Indian ever to do so at this level.
If she overcomes Yangzi Liu, she will most likely face the winner of the match between World No. 5 Wang Yidi (China) and World No. 40 Sabine Winter (Germany) both experienced and battle-hardened opponents.
This draw presents both challenge and opportunity:
A winnable first-round match against Liu, a player still establishing consistency at this level
A possible second-round encounter with Wang Yidi a proven champion and former world No. 2
Manika vs Yangzi: A Tactical Clash
The clash between Manika and Yangzi Liu promises to be an engaging tactical contest. While Liu represents the new wave of international players aggressive, high-paced, and athletic Manika brings her trademark unpredictability to the table with her long pimple rubber, a style that has caught even top Chinese players off guard in the past.
Yangzi, a Commonwealth Games medallist for Australia, has struggled to go deep in WTT Champions events but possesses the flair to challenge higher-ranked opponents. On the other hand, Manika has already proven she can punch above her ranking famously defeating World No. 2 Wang Manyu at the 2024 Saudi Smash.
Manika Batra Makes History: First Indian to Reach Quarterfinals Across All Tiers of the WTT Series
This matchup will likely be decided by tempo control and variation in spin and placement areas where Manika thrives when in rhythm.
Manika Batra’s inclusion in the WTT Champions circuit is no longer an anomaly it’s becoming the norm. From her quarterfinal run in Montpellier, her win over Doo Hoi Kem in Frankfurt, to her landmark upset in Riyadh, Manika has established herself as India’s flagbearer in high-stakes global competitions.
Her record at WTT Champions so far includes:
- Montpellier 2024: Quarterfinalist (wins over Lily Zhang, Bernadette Szocs)
- Frankfurt 2023: Round of 16 (win over Doo Hoi Kem)
- Chongqing 2025: First-round exit
- Upcoming: Yokohama 2025 – faces Yangzi Liu (R32)
With each appearance, Manika not only challenges the rankings but also inspires a generation of Indian players looking to break into the top tier of world table tennis.
India’s Lone Warrior in Yokohama
Among a field packed with Chinese heavyweights and rising European stars, Manika is India’s sole representative in the women’s singles draw at WTT Champions Yokohama. Her progress in this tournament will not just affect her own ranking, but also India’s perception and presence in elite global circuits.
What’s at Stake?
- 1000 ranking points on offer for the winner
- An opportunity to return to the Top 40 in world rankings
- Momentum heading into the final stretch of the 2025 WTT season
- A possible clash with Wang Yidi a rematch fans would be eager to see
As Manika Batra prepares to step on the table in Yokohama, she does so with confidence, experience, and the weight of a billion hopes. If she can channel the form that saw her dismantle global giants in 2024, another deep run isn’t just possible it’s well within reach.
Can she do it again? All eyes on Manika this August.
