Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has spent years competing at the highest level, navigating the demands of professional sport, the pressures of international competition and the constant pursuit of improvement. But staying at the top requires more than what happens at the table. It calls for resilience through setbacks, consistency in training and knowing when to step away and recharge.
In an interaction with Exhibit on the occasion of Nike’s After Dark Tour 2026, Batra spoke about the mindset that keeps her going, balancing life beyond table tennis, staying competition-ready and finding new reasons to love a sport she has played for years. She also shared what being a Nike athlete means to her and why comfort and versatility matter when moving between training, travel and everyday life.
Here’s what she had to say.
AK: Resilience: How do you bounce back from setbacks and keep pushing forward?
MB: I think setbacks are just a part of being an athlete. I have had good phases and difficult phases as well, but I always try to learn from them and move forward.
Of course, sometimes it takes a little time, but I try not to stay stuck on one result. I go back to training, work on what I can improve, and focus on the next challenge.
Also Read: Nike Vegam Run is a ₹3,795 Shoe Designed for India
AK: Multitasking: How do you balance the demands of being a professional athlete with life beyond the sport?
MB: Honestly, it is not always easy because table tennis takes up a big part of my life, and there is training, tournaments, travelling, recovery, and then everything else around it, but I also feel it is important to switch off sometimes and spend time, especially with yourself, with your family and friends, because you know that balance actually helps me come back to the table feeling fresh.
AK: Uncertainty: What keeps you going when the road ahead feels uncertain?
MB: I try to focus on you know what is in my control. In sport, you can never really predict what is going to happen. Like the ranking changes, results change; sometimes things do not go according to your plan.
So for me it is about trusting my training, the process, trusting myself, and just taking it one match and one day at a time.
AK: Passion: After years of playing, what keeps your passion for table tennis alive?
MB: I have been playing table tennis for so many years, but I still genuinely love the sport, and I enjoy the sport. So I still get excited to, you know, compete, to play big matches, and to improve something in my game for my training.
So there is always something new to work on, and I think that feeling of wanting to get better is what keeps the passion alive for me.
AK: ADT Collection: What do you love most about the ADT collection, and how does it fit into your lifestyle?
MB: What I really like is that it feels very comfortable and effortless. As an athlete, I am, you know, constantly moving between training, travelling, events, and everyday life.
So I like clothes that I do not have to, you know, think too much about. I can be comfortable but still feel good and confident in what I’m wearing. And that really, really works for my lifestyle.
AK: Fitness: What’s your fitness mantra, and how do you stay competition-ready?
MB: For me, fitness is consistency. You cannot suddenly start working hard just before a tournament and expect everything to come together. So I try to stay consistent with my training, fitness, and recovery throughout the year.
I also listen to my body because, you know, recovery is equally important when you are travelling and competing so much.
AK: Nike Association: What does being a Nike athlete mean to you?
MB: It means a lot to me, to be honest. Nike is a brand I have, you know, grown up seeing some of the best athletes in the world represent.
So being part of that feels very special. And I also connect with that mindset of always pushing yourself and believing there is another level you can reach. So for me, it is not only about wearing the brand; it is about what it represents as an athlete.