MUMBAI: India’s star table tennis player Manika Batra has broken her silence after being left out of the squad for the 2026 Asian Games, questioning the consistency and transparency of the selection process that saw her miss out despite being ranked just outside the world’s top 50.
Selection Policy and Criteria
The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) on Thursday named its squad for the Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with Sreeja Akula leading a women’s team comprising Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Syndrela Das. Manika and Swastika Ghosh were named among the reserves.
Under the selection policy introduced in 2023, national rankings carry 50 per cent weightage, world rankings account for 40 per cent and the remaining 10 per cent is left to the discretion of the selection committee. Players ranked inside the world’s top 50 earn automatic qualification.
Manika's Ranking and Committee Decision
Manika’s world ranking on the June 2 cut-off date was 51, just three ranking points behind the player occupying the 50th spot. Sources told TOI that the nine-member selection committee was not unanimous in its decision to exclude her.
In a statement issued late on Thursday, Manika described her omission as “deeply disheartening” and expressed concern over how the selection criteria had been interpreted and applied. She added that no specific reason for her exclusion had been communicated to her.
Manika's Statement
“I have never asked for special treatment,” Manika said, while urging the sports ministry and the Indian Olympic Association to examine the matter and ensure the process remains transparent and fair. The 31-year-old pointed out that she has registered victories this season over strong Asian opponents, including Chinese youth champions.
“I have just moved outside the top 50. I remain very close to that bracket. I have not dropped to a distant range; rather, I am at a marginal difference where movement in either direction can occur within a single ranking cycle. In such a context, I find it difficult to understand how this alone becomes a decisive factor outweighing long-standing performance at the highest level,” she wrote.
She also argued that domestic rankings should be viewed in the context of increasing international commitments. “Throughout my career, my focus has been on representing India in international competitions consistently, and national rankings should therefore be viewed in the context of these international commitments rather than in isolation,” she said.
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