After being excluded from the Asian Games squad, Manika Batra responded to allegations of seeking a spot or special treatment by clarifying that she simply wants clear reasons for her omission. The Table Tennis Federation of India named her as a reserve, sparking surprise due to her long-standing international success. Batra has formally requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to intervene, emphasizing the need for transparency in the selection process.
Terming her exclusion as arbitrary and lacking transparency, Batra highlighted her two-decade career representing India at the highest level. She stressed that she is not demanding a place in the team but is seeking answers regarding the decision-making process. The paddler emphasized the importance of transparency, consistency, and accountability in the selection criteria for athletes.
Manika Batra questioned the basis of her exclusion, pointing out her World No. 51 ranking and the ambiguity surrounding the evaluation timeline. She emphasized the need for clarity on how rankings were assessed and whether current form and recent performances were considered. Batra also raised concerns over the exclusion of established medal winners like Ayhika Mukherjee, questioning the criteria used for such decisions.
Highlighting her strong performances this season, Batra underlined the importance of current form in player selection for major events like the Asian Games. She expressed surprise at the omission of athletes with proven track records and called for a fair evaluation process. Batra also questioned the transparency of the final selection process, particularly the voting mechanism and the qualifications of the selection panel.
