Manika Batra came within touching distance of one of her most memorable wins of the 2026 season before bowing out in a pulsating five-game battle against China’s Shi Xunyao in the Round of 16 at the WTT Contender Muscat.
In a contest that swung wildly in momentum and intensity, Shi eventually edged past the Indian star 3–2, prevailing 10–12, 11–2, 11–5, 14–16, 11–9 after nearly an hour of high-quality table tennis at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
For Manika, it was a painful defeat, but one that underlined her growing competitiveness against elite opposition. The Indian No. 1 matched Shi stroke for stroke across five demanding games and even had opportunities to close out the match before the Chinese youngster found a way to wrest control at the final hurdle.
The encounter began with both players testing each other’s timing and touch in a tense opening game. Shi looked sharper early, using her quick backhand exchanges to build a 7–4 lead, but Manika’s variation and heavy forehand topspin soon began to draw errors. The Indian clawed her way back point by point, saving multiple game points before finally snatching the opener 12–10. It was a statement of intent, reflecting both her composure and her willingness to take calculated risks.
That early breakthrough, however, sparked a fierce response from Shi. The second game was all about the Chinese player’s speed and precision. She raced to a 6–0 lead, pinning Manika deep in the backhand corner and repeatedly stepping in to finish points early. Manika struggled to find her rhythm as Shi stormed through the game 11–2, levelling the match in emphatic fashion.
The momentum stayed with Shi in the third. Mixing aggressive first attacks with sharp angles, she kept Manika on the defensive, forcing rushed returns and capitalising on any loose ball. Manika tried to slow the pace with longer rallies and high-arching loops, but Shi’s relentless pressure told, and the Chinese player wrapped up the game 11–5 to move within one game of victory.
Just when it looked as though the match might slip away, Manika produced a stirring comeback in the fourth. The Indian began to read Shi’s serves more effectively and started dictating rallies with her forehand from mid-distance. What followed was a dramatic tug-of-war, with neither player able to establish a clear lead. Shi reached match point at 12–11 and again at 13–12, but each time Manika found a way to respond, digging deep to extend rallies and forcing her opponent into mistakes. In a show of nerves of steel, Manika sealed the game 16–14, roaring back to level the contest at two games apiece.
The decider was always going to be a test of nerve as much as skill, and it was Shi who made the more composed start. She surged into a 6–2 lead, using her quick footwork to take the ball early and keep Manika pinned behind the table. But just as she had done throughout the match, Manika refused to fade. The Indian reeled off a string of points, using clever placement and changes of pace to reduce the gap to 9–6 and then 10–9, putting enormous pressure on Shi at the business end.
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At that point, with the match hanging by a thread, Shi showed why she is regarded as one of the most promising young players on the tour. On match point, she stepped up with a bold backhand down the line that clipped the edge of the table, sealing the contest 11–9 and bringing the gripping encounter to a dramatic close.
While the result ended Manika’s singles campaign in Muscat, the performance itself was full of positives. She had pushed a highly rated Chinese opponent to the limit, saved multiple match points, and demonstrated the resilience that has become a hallmark of her game in recent seasons. The quality of rallies, especially in the fourth and fifth games, showed that Manika is increasingly comfortable trading blows with the best in the world.
For Shi Xunyao, the victory was another step forward in what is shaping up to be a breakthrough season. Her ability to bounce back after losing the opening game, regain control in the middle stages, and then hold her nerve in the deciding moments highlighted a maturity beyond her years.
As the WTT Contender Muscat moves into its latter stages, the match will be remembered as one of the tournament’s standout contests. For Indian fans, it was a reminder that Manika Batra continues to be a force on the global circuit, capable of matching elite opposition point for point, even when the margins do not fall in her favour.
