"There is something still that will always be mine, and when I go to God's presence, there I will doff it and sweep the heavenly pavement with a gesture: something I'll take unstained out of this world... my panache." In these famous closing words from Cyrano de Bergerac (translated from Edmond Rostand's late-19th century French), the "panache" in question is both a white plume atop the titular hero's helmet and the flamboyant verve it epitomizes. Thus, this could capably serve as a rallying cry for the fashion-forward. Manika Batra could be Cyrano's spiritual successor. She has risen to become India's top-ranked woman in table tennis, and she has done so with a style all her own. Unlike most players who use inverted rubber for both sides of their rackets, Batra uses both inverted and pips-out rubber on her combination bat. Unlike most players who use long pips on one side to chop the ball back from a defensive position, Batra instead uses hers to hit the ball right off the bounce. She also frequently twirls (or "twiddles," if you prefer) the racket to keep opponents guessing about what manner and degree of spin she might be imparting. Her pips-out offense is somewhat reminiscent of that of England's Carl Prean, but updated with modern touches like chop blocks à la Japan's Koki Niwa. The result is a style that is as distinctive as it is effective. Batra's playing style dovetails with her fashion style. For example, in 2018 she accessorized her way to to India's first gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, painting her fingernails in the saffron, white and green of India's flag. "When I hold the ball before serve, my eyes naturally go towards the nail and seeing the tricolor helped motivate and lift me up during a difficult period in matches," says Batra. "I also like to wear fancy earrings and moreover, I like to be stylish." Batra sees a greater societal message in her self-expression. "I’d also like to tell the women out there that be confident about your choices and not bother with societal perceptions," she says. "Just be yourselves." Although she does not wear an actual feather plume on her head, there is no doubt that Manika Batra plays table tennis the way she lives her life: with panache.

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