Wiser after Tokyo, star Indian paddler Manika Batra is focused on taking one match at a time at the Paris Olympics and said on Monday that a medal will not be on her mind in the initial rounds of the event.

At Tokyo 2020, Manika — appearing in her second successive Olympics — became the first Indian table tennis player to reach the third round at the Games. She had also teamed up with Sharath Kamal in the mixed doubles event, but the pair bowed out in the opener.

Preparing for the Paris Olympics with her teammates, Manika said she has learned from her experience in Tokyo three years ago.

“I have learned many things from the last Olympics, and I am not going to make those mistakes again. My mindset has changed since then, I am calmer and have more confidence in myself,” Manika said during an interview with Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT).

“I have been working on my stamina and my agility, and my ultimate aim is to challenge for a medal. But I will go slowly. I will try to be in that zone and give my best. I will go round by round and not think of a medal too early. I will give my best for my country,” the 29-year-old Manika, who represents PBG Bengaluru Smashers in UTT, added.

India will compete in the individual as well as team events of table tennis in Paris. For the first time in the history of Indian table tennis, the men's and women's teams qualified by virtue of their world rankings.

Manika reached the quarter-finals of the WTT Saudi Smash in May beating World No. 2 and former world champion Wang Manyu of China and World No. 14 Nina Mittelham of Germany.

“India qualified for the first time (for the Olympics), this is a huge achievement. I am really happy with how we are working together (at the camp). I think we have a shot at the medal and we should give our best,” Manika said.

“I see many of my fellow players playing really well. Everyone in the team is motivated and training very hard. Women’s table tennis in India will only grow further."