Sreeja Akula achieves best-ever ranking by Indian singles paddler

As a result of reaching the pre-quarterfinals at Paris, Sreeja Akula has climbed to world no. 21 in latest rankings.

In the latest table tennis rankings, India’s Sreeja Akula has made history by achieving the highest rank by an Indian singles paddler in the sport’s history. Sreeja, who became just the second Indian after Manika Batra to reach the round of 16 in singles division at the Olympics, climbed three places to be ranked World No. #21 in the latest ITTF World Rankings. Manika, 29, also made a jump of three positions to be ranked 25th globally.

Both Indian paddlers recently made history by reaching the last 16 at Paris Olympics 2024. They were, however, knocked out from the pre-quarterfinals with Sreeja squandering game points in consecutive games.

Double Success for Indian Table Tennis! 🇮🇳Both Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra break into the Top 25 world rankings. Akula is also the highest-ranked singles player ever. Indian table tennis is on the rise! 💥#manikabatra #Sreejakula #Tabletennis pic.twitter.com/bBTND2jeme

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) August 21, 2024

The 26-year-old has climbed the ranks rapidly, having started the year ranked 89th in the world but is now at a career-best 21st, the highest ever for an Indian singles table tennis player.

At Paris Olympics, Sreeja became the second Indian paddler to reach the Round of 16 in the women’s singles event after Manika. She defeated Sweden’s Christina Kallberg and Singapore’s Zeng Jian to achieve this milestone.

On her 26th birthday, Sreeja even pushed World No. #1 Sun Yingsha of China to the limit in the pre-quarterfinals, earning an impressive nine game points in the first two sets before eventually losing 0-4.

Not to be outdone, Manika Batra has maintained her position as India’s second-highest ranked female table tennis player, currently sitting at World No. #25.

At the Paris Games, Batra also made history by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to reach the Round of 16 in the women’s singles event, though she was ultimately defeated by Japan’s Miu Hirano.

In the men’s Singles, Achanta Sharath Kamal continues to be India’s highest ranked TT player at 38th position.

Veteran Indian table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal was eliminated in the men’s singles round of 64 at Paris Olympics 2024. Kamal lost to Slovenia’s Deni Kozul, ranked 126th in the world, with a score of 2-4. The match, which lasted 53 minutes, ended with set scores of 12-10, 9-11, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8, and 10-12

Sharath Kamal is followed by Manav Vikas Thakkar, who is occupying 57th position in the latest rankings of ITTF.

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