MUMBAI: India's most recognisable table tennis player, Manika Batra, has been omitted from the squad for the upcoming Asian Games after failing to meet the selection criteria established by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).
In Manika's absence, the women's team will be captained by Sreeja Akula and includes Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee, and 17-year-old Syndrela Das. Manika and Swastika Ghosh have been named as reserves for the Games, scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
The TTFI stated, "The selection process ensured that India's highest-ranked and most consistent performers earned the opportunity to represent the country at Asia's biggest multi-sport event."
Under the 2023 selection policy, national rankings carry 50 percent weightage, world rankings account for 40 percent, and the remaining 10 percent is at the discretion of the selection committee. Players within the world's top 50 automatically qualify regardless of national ranking.
Manika narrowly missed automatic qualification, being ranked World No. 51 on the June 2 cut-off date, just three ranking points behind the 50th spot. Sources indicate that the nine-member selection committee was not unanimous, and national coach Massimo Costantini provided inputs before the meeting.
A Round-of-64 appearance at a WTT Star Contender event, which Manika would have automatically qualified for, carries five ranking points—enough to have pushed her into the top 50. As a multiple Commonwealth Games medallist and part of India's historic mixed doubles bronze-medal-winning pair at the 2018 Asian Games, Manika remains India's second-highest-ranked women's player behind World No. 45 Sreeja Akula.
Her absence from domestic tournaments this season also counted against her. Coach Aman Balgu noted, "Personally, she has gone through a lot over the last year. She also dealt with a serious injury, which affected the number of competitions she could participate in." Manika was also sidelined for nearly two months following the sudden death of her father. Balgu added, "As per our calculations, Manika will be the top-ranked Indian women's player as soon as next month. She has had decent results this year and it's sad that she won't be in the squad."
In the men's section, India's challenge will be led by top-ranked paddlers Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, along with experienced campaigners G. Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai, and youngster Payas Jain.
