Indian table tennis player Manika Batra has raised serious concerns over the selection process for the Asian Games team, alleging that the composition of the selection committee violated the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) constitution. Batra stated that a nine-member committee decided the squad, while Article 24(C)(j) of the TTFI constitution permits a maximum of seven members in any sub-committee.
Batra's Social Media Post Exposes Committee Size Discrepancy
In a post on X, Batra wrote, "TTFI, in its response to me, has stated that the entire selection process was conducted strictly in accordance with the rules. However, the documents available with me show that a 9-member Selection Committee decided the Asian Games team, while Article 24(C)(j) of the TTFI Constitution states that no Sub-Committee can have more than 7 members." She added, "A 9-member committee decided my fate, yet I am being told that the process was fully compliant with the Constitution and the rules. I will leave it to the people to decide."
Mental Exhaustion and Shift in Focus
Batra expressed that she is mentally exhausted from the ongoing dispute and is now shifting her focus back to competition. She is currently participating in a tournament representing India and will concentrate fully on her upcoming matches. She extended her best wishes to the selected squad, saying, "To the selected team, I wish you nothing but success. Go and make India proud. Jai Hind."
Earlier Concerns Over Exclusion and Lack of Transparency
Earlier, Batra had expressed strong concerns over her exclusion from India's main squad for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The 31-year-old Olympian was named among the reserves when the TTFI announced a 10-member contingent. In a detailed statement, she said, "I am not asking to be selected. I am not asking anyone to overturn the decision. I am asking for answers. No specific reason for my non-selection has been communicated to me."
Questions Over Ranking Criteria
Batra also raised questions about the ranking criteria used for selection. She pointed out that rankings in table tennis are updated every week and operate on a rolling points system. She asked, "What timeline was considered while evaluating rankings? Was the assessment based on the previous 12 months, six months, the previous two months, or a single weekly ranking snapshot?" Batra is currently ranked World No. 51.
