Manika Batra’s Path to Potential Olympic Glory: The Role of a Motivational Book, a Strategic Twiddle, and a Mother’s Support
A Tale of Dedication and Resilience India’s most celebrated table tennis star, Manika Batra, has an interesting arsenal of secrets fueling her potential Olympic success: a hefty motivational book, a strategic racquet switch, and unwavering emotional support from her mother. India’s top table tennis player Manika Batra used the long pimpled rubber to finish on the podium at the Commonwealth Games six years ago. Over the past decade, Manika has developed a deep admiration for cricket superstar Virat Kohli, drawn to his passionate and relentless approach to the game. “It’s because of how he handles everything that happens to him, and how passionate he’s about winning through all that. And how he enjoys playing cricket,” she shares. The Power of a Motivational Tome Before every match, Manika delves into a motivational book that she describes as “Ek moti-si kitaab hai” — a thick book of 280 pages that works like magic for her. The title escapes her, but the essence of its wisdom remain...