Manika Batra made her bestreturn to form with less than three months to go for the Paris Olympics as the28-year-old Indian shocked World No. 2 Wang Manyu to enter thepre-quarterfinals of the Saudi Smash at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddahtoday.

Manika beat thesecond-seeded Chinese 3-1 (6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10), taking just 37 minutes.Though Manika lost the opening game against the 25-year-old, she fought backwell to take the next two games quickly. The world No. 2 kept herself in thematch until Manika, without giving her another opportunity, claimed the lasttwo points to seal the Chinese fate.

The unseeded and world No.39 Manika, who accounted for Andreea Dragoman of Romania yesterday, clasheswith Nina Mittelham of Germany, ranked No. 14 in the world, tomorrow.

In mixed doubles, HarmeetDesai and Yashaswini Ghorpade surprised the Spanish fifth-seeded pair of AlvaroRobles and Maria Xiao 3-2 (11-5, 5-11, 3-11, 11-7,11-7) to storm into thequarterfinals. In the pre-quarters, the Indian duo had beaten the Chilean duoNicolas Burgos and Paulina Vega 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-5).

The Asian Games bronzemedallists Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee ended a successful day in Jeddah whenthe pair defeated Mariam and Marwa Alhodaby 3-0 (11-7, 1-3, 11-4) to enter thepre-quarters.

The Asian Games bronzemedallists Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee ended a successful day in Jeddah whenthe pair defeated Mariam and Marwa Alhodaby 3-0 (11-7, 1-3, 11-4) to enter thepre-quarters.

However, Sreeja Akula, whoupstaged Manika in the world ranking to occupy the No. 38 position, lost 7-11,11-3, 11-9, 12-14 to Jieni Saho after leading the Portuguese in two games.Earlier other Indians went down with good fights in singles including A.Sharath Kamal, Archana Kamath, Manav Thakkar and Sutirtha Mukherjee.

Sharath, who met ArunaQadri of Nigeria in the round of 64, lost after a gutsy performance as he led2-0. Qadri beat Sharath 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 13-11.