How Manika Batra is turning athlete fashion into a personal power play

After much ado, I am somehow able to snag a small slot in Manika Batra’s jam-packed schedule. At the time of our chat, the “golden girl” of table tennis had just returned from her stellar performance at the USD 300,000 WTT Star Contender 2025 games in London. Even though she lost in the quarter-finals, Batra managed to beat world no.12 from China, Shi Xunyao, in a match that had viewers on the edge of their seats. But unlike many interviews on her paddle style, this one is more about the kind she carries on her sleeves—quite literally.

Exhibit A—the 30-year-old’s Instagram feed, which is unlike that of many other Indian athletes. Interspersed with professionally shot photos of her playing on international stages, there are glimpses into her fashionable personal life. Olympic-themed nail art, Celine sweaters, and a Miss Dior cropped tee sit beside athleisure from Puma, Adidas, and Nike. When asked, Batra isn’t shy to admit: “My priority is always the sport, but I love to style myself. Because I’m tall, I usually go for a clean, minimal yet expressive look, outfits that are simple but still say something about me.” To brave the colder temperature of London, where she was the night before the interview, she relied on her Moncler jacket. “Oh, and I love Goyard bags! And, not to forget, Miu Miu shoes.”

Style: Paddle and personal

It has been a long time since Batra has actually shopped. Back-to-back tournaments have precluded her from the opportunity. And rightly so, considering her stellar career up until now. She became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in the sport at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and later, the first table tennis player to receive India’s highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020. Batra again shot into the limelight at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she became the first Indian table tennis player to reach the Round of 16 in the singles event. Away from the playing field, her plans include strategising shopping sprees with her mother in Delhi. As for her favourite shopping haunts growing up in the Capital? Classics that range from the flea market Janpath to high-street retailer Zara.

For someone so deeply disciplined in her sport, what piques my interest is how Batra’s style is absolutely on-point and in-season—from the brand names she rattles off to the looks she styles. Thus, I can’t help but ask where the inspiration comes from. “Honestly, I scroll social media to see whatever is trending,” she says, and chuckles to add: “I follow Pinterest regularly to find trends and find my style.” An Olympian who is a Pinterest girl, too. Her seemingly effortless style though, goes beyond just Instagram aesthetics. It translates into real opportunities. “Sponsorships come primarily from the sport, especially if you’re performing well,” she explains. Batra has in the past reached a world ranking of no. 4, the highest-ever for an Indian table tennis player. “But, personal style is important too. A brand doesn’t just evaluate your performance, they see your off-court personality as well,” she says. It’s a balance she seems to have mastered. Over the years, she has been associated with adidas and Herbalife Nutrition, and most recently, she joined Boldfit—a D2C sports and fitness start-up—as brand athlete and investor, alongside Indian cricketer KL Rahul. But the beauty and fashion segment seems to be sleeping on her immaculate taste. An ambassadorship or a runway walk needs to happen, stat. And yes, we have Batra’s consent.

Don’t table the style upgrade

While growing up in Delhi, Batra imitated her sister’s style. “I am not very fond of makeup, but I’ve always been quite experimental with my clothing,” she admits. Comfort is her topmost priority—and it is the table tennis uniform in which she feels most at ease. “The lightness of the fabric helps in small, short movements, but I do feel we could improve on the design (appearance) aspect,” she adds.

Ruefully, she adds, “I’ve always wanted to wear dresses like tennis players.” Think Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka. The latter’s recent US Open fit, encrusted with gleaming red Swarovski crystals, especially caught Batra’s eye. And, among the men, footballer David Beckham’s subtle fits and cricketer Virat Kohli’s sharp fashion appeals to her. But her plea remains: “I would love to see some more creative options for TT players as well.” That’s a personal pitch from us to the Table Tennis overlords, too.

This article first appeared in Cosmopolitan India's November-December 2025 print edition.

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