Ace paddler Manika Batra has expressed feeling “mentally exhausted” and decided to step back from the ongoing selection dispute with the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). She raised concerns about her exclusion from the Asian Games squad despite being a three-time Olympian and questioned the federation’s adherence to its own rules.
After the TTFI announced a 10-member team for the Asian Games 2026, including Olympians Sreeja Akula and G Sathiyan but excluding Manika, the paddler found her absence surprising and controversial. She criticized her exclusion as “arbitrary and lacking transparency” and sought intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
In response to Manika’s queries, the TTFI defended its selection process, stating that it was conducted in line with the established policy. The federation clarified that Manika’s candidature was indeed considered and voted upon by the selection committee, contrary to her claims of being overlooked.
Manika highlighted a discrepancy between the TTFI’s constitution and its actions, specifically pointing out Article 24(C) which limits sub-committees to seven members. She revealed that documents indicated a nine-member selection committee for the Asian Games team, raising doubts about the process’s compliance with the rules.
Expressing her exhaustion from the conflict, Manika announced her decision to focus on her current tournament commitments and wished success to the selected team for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. She emphasized the need for fairness and adherence to rules in sporting selections, urging for equal treatment for all athletes.
