Pune NGO supports Rio-bound Manika Batra

Young table tennis star Manika Batra has found support for her 2016 Rio Olympics campaign with Pune-based sports NGO Lakshya, along with confectionery brand Falero, announcing support for the paddler. The 19-year-old Batra, with a world ranking of 115, qualified for the women’s singles event by winning the South Asia group of the qualification tournament in April, 2016, and is considered to be one of the brightest prospects in Indian table tennis. With the addition of Batra and men’s table tennis player Soumyajit Ghosh, the sports NGO will have six players at the Rio Olympics, the others being wrestler Ravindra Khatri, badminton doubles stars Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Atri and tennis player Prarthana Thombare, who will be partnering Sania Mirza in women’s doubles in tennis. “Timely support can be a game changer for athletes. We are thrilled to support Manika and others and join them on their journey to achieve their goals,” said Vishal Chordia, president of Lakshya.