If there was a 'Find of the Year' award, Manika Batra would have walked away with it for 2018.
She made heads turn with her startling performances in the Commonwealth Games, helping India win the women team gold and then providing the biggest surprise from Gold Coast by bringing home the ladies singles gold ahead of several fancied names.
She returned with two gold, a silver and a bronze to emerge as the most valuable Indian player from the Games.
What more, Manika upstaged World No. 4 Feng Tianwei twice in six days to make the table tennis world sit up and take notice.
Though the World team championship proved disappointing, Manika again made history in the Asian Games by joining hands with Sharath Kamal and returning with a mixed doubles bronze medal.
Honoured with Arjuna Award this year and perched at a career-high World ranking of 52, Manika is eager to scale new heights in 2019.
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