Star table tennis player Manika Batra on Friday (June 26) alleged that the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has violated its own constitution while selecting the team for the upcoming Asian Games. However, Manika also admitted that she is mentally tired. Now she is withdrawing from this fight. On the other hand, TTFI says that the selection process was completely as per the rules. TTFI had announced its 10-member table tennis team for the Asian Games to be held from September 19 to October 4, in which Manika’s name was included in the list of reserve players.
In a statement on social media, Manika claimed that TTFI had informed her that the selection process was completely as per the rules but the documents in her possession revealed that a nine-member selection committee had chosen the Asian Games team. Manika alleged that this is against Rule 24(C)(j) of the TTFI constitution. According to this rule, any sub-committee cannot have more than 7 members.
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Manika left the decision to the public
Manika said, ‘A nine-member committee decided my future, yet I am being told that the process was completely in accordance with the Constitution and rules.’ Former Commonwealth Games gold medalist and three-time Olympian Manika said that she is leaving the decision on the matter to the public. Especially those who have been continuously saying that the rules should be respected and applied equally to everyone. Manika said that she is tired and does not want to continue this fight with TTFI.
Manika said, ‘I am mentally tired of this fight and for now I am laying down my weapons.’ He said that his focus is on representing India in a tournament going on in America. Manika said, ‘Today I have a big responsibility. I am currently representing India in a tournament and now my full focus will be on the tournament. Congratulating the selected team, Manika said, ‘I wish success to the selected team. Go and make India proud.
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What is the whole controversy?
The entire controversy started with Manika’s exclusion from India’s main table tennis team selected for the Asian Games 2026. Manika had raised questions on transparency and consistency in the selection process, while TTFI says that the team was selected as per their selection policy. According to the TTFI, the players were selected using a formula that gave 50 per cent weightage to national ranking, 40 per cent weightage to world ranking and 10 per cent weightage to the selection committee’s stance.
Manika remains India’s second-highest ranked women’s singles player in the international circuit but missing several domestic tournaments has affected her national ranking, which is an important part of the selection process. The women’s team will be captained by India’s highest ranked female player and world number 45 player Shreeja Akula. The team also includes Yashasvi Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Cinderella Das. Along with Manika, Swastika Ghosh was also selected as a reserve player.
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