WTT Star Contender: Manika Batra Stuns World No. 12 Shi Xunyao To Enter Quarters

From visa drama to victory, Manika Batra has turned her London campaign into a story of grit and glory.

Just days after voicing frustration over delayed UK visas, the Indian paddling star pulled off a massive

upset on Saturday, defeating world No. 12 Shi Xunyao of China to book her spot in the women’s singles quarterfinals at the WTT Star Contender London 2025.

Ranked No. 43 in the world and seeded 16th, Batra toppled the fourth-seeded Chinese 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9 in a thrilling 37-minute encounter at the Copper Box Arena. The win marks one of her biggest international scalps in recent months.

Next up, she faces either fifth seed Shin Yubin of Korea or ninth seed Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei for a place in the semifinals.

From Visa Delays to Victory

It wasn’t an easy road to London for Batra. Earlier this week, she revealed that she and her teammates struggled to get their UK visas approved, jeopardizing their participation altogether.

Batra, along with G. Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Diya Chitale, and team staff, had applied right after the China Smash tournament in early October but didn’t receive approvals until the last moment. She was forced to delay her departure and arrived just in time for the event.

Now, with her racquet doing the talking, Manika has turned frustration into fire, proving once again why she remains India’s top table tennis star on the global stage.

(with PTI inputs)