Perhaps it would have been easier for Manika Batra to rest on her laurels. For, in a country that is yet to step into the big league of table tennis, she has already accomplished much. But instead, it is always on to newer peaks to be scaled for her.

India’s table tennis superstar has many an achievement to her credit. She is the country’s sole woman to have clinched a singles gold at the Commonwealth Games (2018, where she also bagged the team gold). The reigning national champion also claimed the mixed doubles bronze at the Asian Games the same year.

Up next is Mission Olympics. Manika is brimming with confidence. She has just secured two berths at the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games — the women’s singles and mixed doubles.

It’s obvious that there will be expectations, but does that put extra pressure on the 2020 Khel Ratna awardee?

The answer is an emphatic no. “I am happy to have made the Olympic cut in two events at the Asian Olympic qualifiers in Doha,” the 25-year old told The Telegraph. “Of course, expectations do put some pressure on you but I am taking it in a positive way. Since I am playing well, people hope that I will fetch the country a medal or two in Tokyo. And I will do my utmost so that their expectations are not belied. Hence, those hopes are not a burden to me. On the contrary, they add to my confidence.”

After her return from Doha, Manika has plunged straight back into practice in Pune at India Khelega, the academy where she trains with Sanmay Paranjape.

“The very day after I returned from the Doha, I hit the gym and started training. There’s not a moment to lose. See, rigorous practice has always been on and there will be no deviation from that routine. But now we will be concentrating on figuring out which areas I need to further focus on… fitness, strength, flexibility and so on.”

After sealing her singles spot in the qualifiers, Manika partnered Sharath Kamal to stage a remarkable comeback in the mixed doubles final to defeat world No. 8 Korean duo of Sang-Su Lee and Jihee Jeon 4-2. That earned her the second berth.

How does she intend to practise with Sharath who is based in Chennai? “For both Sharath bhaiyya and me, the most important thing is to be completely ready with our games,” Manika said.

“I have been training hard with (Belarussian sparring partner) Kiryl Barabanov. Sharath bhaiyya has been doing his routine. We will have to come together to practise but the priority is for us both to be completely at the top of our games. The rest will fall into place,” said the world No. 63.

And how much has the table tennis league, the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), helped her game?

“Oh, a lot,” she said. “A whole lot of talented foreign players came down to the country and playing with and against them helped us sharpen our games.

“Playing with them has also boosted our comfort levels, so when we play international tournaments, we carry the confidence that we can beat them.”

Many sportspersons in the country have motivated her to reach where she has — Sachin Tendulkar, PV Sindhu, Sania Mirza to name a few — but she singles out MC Mary Kom for special mention.

“Mary Kom is amazing. Look at her performance even at 38 years of age. There is much to learn from her,” said Manika.

As for targets, for now Manika intends to “do a little better each day”.

“I intend to go up and up and why only Tokyo, a gold at Paris 2024 is also on my radar.

“And I intend to break into the top 30 in world rankings in the near future,” she said.