Sreeja Akula has reached a historic milestone by achieving the highest-ever ranking for an Indian table tennis player. Now positioned at world No. 22 in the women’s singles, following her impressive performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings, updated on Tuesday, reflect Akula’s ascent. During the Paris Olympics, Akula defeated Sweden’s then world No. 58 Christina Kallberg 4-0 in the round of 64 and overcame 52nd-ranked Zeng Jian of Singapore 4-2 in the round of 32.
Akula, alongside Manika Batra, became the first Indian table tennis players to advance to the round of 16 in individual events at the Olympics. However, her campaign ended with a 4-0 loss to world No.1 Yingsha Sun of China in the round of 16.
Akula’s latest ranking represents a climb of three places from her previous position. Manika Batra also improved her ranking, moving up to 25th. Akula’s previous highest ranking was world No. 24, achieved after her victory at the WTT Contender Lagos in June.
At the Paris Olympics, Batra advanced to the pre-quarterfinals by defeating France’s then world No. 18 Prithika Pavade 4-0 in the round of 32 but faced defeat 4-1 against Japan’s eighth-seeded Miu Hirano in the round of 16.
Together, Akula and Batra are the only Indian players to have entered the top 25 in women’s singles rankings. Tokyo Olympian Sutirtha Mukherjee is the next-best Indian women’s singles player, currently ranked No. 84.
In doubles, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee lead as India’s top pair, holding the world No. 17 spot. Among men’s singles players, the rankings place Sharath Kamal at 41st, Manav Thakkar at No. 59, and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran at No. 64. The ranking of Harmeet Desai is 87th.
In men’s doubles, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah are India’s highest-ranked pair at No. 16. The top Indian mixed doubles pair is Diya Chitale and Manush Shah, also holding the No. 16 ranking.
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