Bengaluru TT star makes big waves
The Bangalore table tennis sensation
Manika and Archana had defeated the Chinese Liu Weishan and
In the Budapest WTT tournament, Archana, ranked number 134 in the world, upset the 58th
Archana quickly rose to number one in Karnataka in four age categories, Under-15, Under-18, Under-21 and Women’s Singles, all simultaneously. She had the distinction of being the first player in the history of table tennis in the state. Archana made big waves at the 2013 national championship by winning all three g available as well as a bronze in doubles.
Archana, who is right-handed and has a lethal forehand in top spin shot, was first selected in 2014 and was the only Indian to be selected to represent the Asian team at the World Cadet Challenge of the ITTF later in the year. She won a team silver medal and also received the ITTF Fair Play Award. In 2016, she was the highest ranked player on the ITTF Junior World Tour.
Archana won her first senior national singles title in 2018 and, ironically, defeated doubles partner Manika Batra in the semifinals en route to the title at Cuttack. That same year, Archana broke into the semifinals of the Youth Olympics. She lost and played the bronze medal match against Andreea Dragoman of Romania but lost 1-4. âI want to win an Olympic gold medal for India. I want to be a soldier for my country, âArchana proclaimed.