In a thrilling encounter at the Saudi SMAASH in May, Indian table tennis ace Manika Batra unveiled a formidable tactic known as the ‘Bhangra twiddle’ to outmaneuver China’s World No. 2 Wang Manyu. This technique, which involves a swift rotation of the paddle to alternate between backhand and forehand grips, has been a part of Manika’s skill set for 15 years but is employed strategically and rarely.

During the intense match, with the score at 11-10 in Manika’s favor after a comeback from 8-10, she predicted Wang’s backhand response and swiftly switched her grip. This allowed her to place the ball precisely on Wang’s forehand, a high-risk move given the Chinese player’s expertise in counter-attacks. Had Manika missed, the score could have tied at 11-11, potentially pushing the match into a deciding game.

The technique’s name, ‘twiddle,’ is derived from the near-identical twins Tweedledee and Tweedledum from “Alice in Wonderland,” indicating the almost invisible grip change. Manika’s adaptation, the ‘Bhangra Twiddle,’ evokes the dynamic wrist movements of Daler Mehndi’s iconic dance move from Bolo Tara ra ra.

This strategic play not only secured Manika’s victory but also had broader repercussions for Wang Manyu. The defeat might have jeopardized Wang’s prospects for an individual berth in the Chinese squad, although she will still compete in team events.