Sreeja Akula to Miss Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 Due to Injury
New Delhi [India], August 14: India’s top-ranked table tennis player, Sreeja Akula, has been sidelined for six weeks due to a stress fracture. This injury means she will miss the upcoming Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) tournament, set to begin on August 22.
“I’m sorry to share that I have been diagnosed with a stress fracture and on my doctor’s advice, I’ll need to rest for six weeks, which unfortunately means I won’t be able to participate in UTT 2024,” Akula, currently ranked world No. 21, said in a statement.
Akula was drafted to play for the Jaipur Patriots in UTT 2024. She will now be replaced by the U19 Youth National Champion and UTT debutant Nithyashree Mani in the squad.
Last week, Sreeja Akula achieved the highest ranking for an Indian table tennis player at world No. 21 in the women’s singles following an impressive campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics. At Paris 2024, Akula beat Sweden’s then world No. 58 Christina Kallberg in the round of 64 before getting the better of 52nd-ranked Zeng Jian of Singapore in the round of 32. Akula and Manika Batra became the first table tennis players from the country to reach the round of 16 at the Olympics in individual events. However, Akula lost to world No. 1 Yingsha Sun of the People’s Republic of China in the round of 16.
Sreeja and Manika are the only Indian table tennis players to make it to the top 25 in women’s singles rankings.
Doubts Revealed
Sreeja Akula -: Sreeja Akula is a top-ranked table tennis player from India. She is known for her excellent skills and has achieved a high ranking in the world.
Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 -: Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 is a big table tennis tournament where many top players compete. It’s like a big sports event for table tennis.
stress fracture -: A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone that happens because of too much pressure or overuse. It can be very painful and needs rest to heal.
U19 Youth National Champion -: U19 Youth National Champion means the best player in India under the age of 19. This player has won the national competition for young players.
Nithyashree Mani -: Nithyashree Mani is a young and talented table tennis player from India. She is the U19 Youth National Champion, which means she is very good at the sport.
Paris 2024 Olympics -: The Paris 2024 Olympics is a big international sports event that will happen in Paris, France, in 2024. Athletes from all over the world compete in different sports.
round of 16 -: The round of 16 is a stage in a tournament where 16 players or teams compete. Winning this round means you move closer to the finals.
Manika Batra -: Manika Batra is another top table tennis player from India. She is also ranked among the top 25 women players in the world.
top 25 women’s singles rankings -: This means the list of the best 25 women table tennis players in the world. Being in the top 25 is a big achievement.