All posts tagged: Manika

‘Exhausted’ Manika Batra accuses TTFI of breaching its own constitution in Asian Games selection rown

‘Exhausted’ Manika Batra accuses TTFI of breaching its own constitution in Asian Games selection rown

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026 01:04 PM IST Table tennis star Manika Batra has said that the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) violated its own rules while selecting the Indian squad for the 2026 Asian Games but indicated that she won’t be pursuing the matter any more for now. Batra, who had won bronze at the 2018 Asian Games and is a triple gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games, was named only as a reserve for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and she had earlier asked for an explanation from the TTFI for her omission from the main squad. She said in a statement on Friday that she was told by the TTFI that a nine-member selection committee had selected the Indian squad for the Asiad. “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 …

Asian Games row: Manika Batra threatens legal action, seeks PM intervention | Sports News

Asian Games row: Manika Batra threatens legal action, seeks PM intervention | Sports News

Published by Webster

India’s leading table tennis player Manika Batra has intensified her challenge to her exclusion from the Asian Games squad, issuing a strongly-worded statement demanding answers from the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and warning that she could pursue legal action if a satisfactory explanation is not provided. Batra also said she has sought Prime Minister Narendra’s intervention. Batra, who was named only as a reserve for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, insisted that she was not seeking a place in the team or asking for the decision to be reversed. “Let me state this clearly. I am not asking to be selected. I am not asking anyone to overturn the decision. I am asking for answers,” Batra said. The former Asian Games medallist questioned the basis on which players were evaluated, pointing out that she is currently ranked World No. 51 and that international rankings operate on a rolling points system. She asked what period had been considered during the selection process and whether a marginal drop outside the world’s top 50 was enough to …

After Manika Batra, equestrian Anush Agarwalla questions exclusion from Asian Games squad

After Manika Batra, equestrian Anush Agarwalla questions exclusion from Asian Games squad

Published by Webster

A day after Manika Batra raised questions about her exclusion from the Indian table tennis team for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games, equestrian Anush Agarwalla followed the suit on Friday. Agarwalla, who had clinched an individual dressage bronze and a historic team dressage gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games three years back, was named among the reserves much like Batra as the Equestrian Federation of India announced the Indian contingent. “Today, I stand as India’s No. 1 ranked dressage rider, Asia’s No. 2 ranked rider, and World No. 14 in the FEI 1* Rankings. I have also achieved the highest PSG scores among all Indian athletes this year. That is why being named a reserve for the upcoming Asian Games comes as a surprise and raises important questions about the criteria being applied in athlete selection,” Agarwalla wrote in a social media post. The 26-year-old from Kolkata urged for transparency in the selection process. “While I respect the selection process and the athletes chosen to represent India, I believe every athlete deserves clarity on how …

Manika Batra questions her exclusion from Asian Games 2026 Table Tennis squad

Manika Batra questions her exclusion from Asian Games 2026 Table Tennis squad

Published by Webster

4 min readJun 19, 2026 07:40 AM IST Ace Indian paddler Manika Batra has raised concerns about the selection of the Table Tennis squad for the Asian Games on Thursday. Manika was excluded from the squad and was named in reserves alongwith Swastika Ghosh. She was excluded due to her absence from domestic events because of which she does not feature in the Table Tennis Federation of India rankings. “My exclusion from the Asian Games 2026 squad is deeply disheartening, not only because of the outcome, but because of the manner in which the selection criteria appear to have been interpreted and applied. No specific reason has been communicated to me,” Manika said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the TTFI said it selects players based on international and national rankings. “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,” said TTFI. As per the selection policy drafted in 2023, 50 percent weightage is given to national rankings, 40 percent …

“Exclusion from the Asian Games 2026 squad is disheartening”: Manika Batra

“Exclusion from the Asian Games 2026 squad is disheartening”: Manika Batra

Published by Webster

India’s leading table tennis player Manika Batra has questioned the process behind her exclusion from the main squad for the 2026 Asian Games, calling for greater transparency and consistency in the application of selection criteria. The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) on Thursday named Manika among the reserve players for the continental showpiece despite her being India’s second-highest ranked women’s singles player in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings. In a detailed statement issued after the squad announcement, Manika expressed disappointment over both the decision and the manner in which it was reached. “My exclusion from the Asian Games 2026 squad is deeply disheartening, not only because of the outcome, but because of the manner in which the selection criteria appear to have been interpreted and applied. No specific reason has been communicated to me,” she said. The former Commonwealth Games champion also appealed to the Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association to review the matter. “I respectfully request the Hon’ble Sports Minister and the leadership of the Indian Olympic Association …

Manika Batra left out of India’s Asian Games Table Tennis main squad, Ayhika Mukherjee misses out

Manika Batra left out of India’s Asian Games Table Tennis main squad, Ayhika Mukherjee misses out

Published by Webster

India’s most decorated women’s table tennis player, Manika Batra, has been left out of the main squad for the 2026 Asian Games after failing to satisfy the selection criteria laid down by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). The 30-year-old, who won a historic mixed doubles bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games and has multiple Commonwealth Games medals to her name, was named among the reserve players for the continental event scheduled in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. According to TTFI, selections were made based on a policy introduced in 2023, which allocates 50 per cent weightage to national rankings, 40 per cent to world rankings and the remaining 10 per cent to the discretion of the selection committee. Despite being India’s second-highest ranked women’s player at World No. 51, behind Sreeja Akula at No. 45, Manika’s absence from domestic tournaments meant she did not feature prominently in the national rankings, affecting her overall selection score. Sreeja Akula to lead Women’s Squad Sreeja Akula headlines the women’s squad, which also …

ITTF World Team Table Tennis C’ships: Manika Batra, Manav lead India’s charge

ITTF World Team Table Tennis C’ships: Manika Batra, Manav lead India’s charge

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India’s top table tennis stars, led by Olympians Manika Batra, G Sathiyan, Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai, will take centre stage at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships 2026, beginning April 28 in London. Set to be held at the iconic OVO Arena Wembley, the tournament brings together 64 teams each in the men’s and women’s competitions, making it one of the most competitive global team events in the sport. The championships feature two prestigious trophies, the Swaythling Cup (men) and the Corbillon Cup (women). Each tie consists of up to five singles matches, with the first team to win three matches progressing, placing equal importance on squad depth and consistency. India’s challenge India enters the tournament through Stage 1b, a tougher route compared to the top-seeded teams placed directly in Stage 1a. The men’s team, led by world No. 38 Manav Thakkar, have been drawn in Group 7 alongside Slovakia, Tunisia and Guatemala. On paper, it’s a manageable group, but the margin for error remains minimal given the qualification rules. The women’s team, …

Manav Thakkar, Manika Batra off to disappointing start

Manav Thakkar, Manika Batra off to disappointing start

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Indian table tennis players including manav Thakkar and Manika Batra started their ITTF World Cup 2026 on a disappointing note, losing their respective opening group matches in Macao on Monday. In men’s singles, Manav Thakkar lost to Park Gang-hyeon of the Republic of Korea in straight sets 0-3 (7-11, 6-11, 8-11). The world no 33 will now take on world No. 2 and Olympic silver medallist Truls Möregårdh of Sweden in the final group game. Asian Games medallist Manav is the sole Indian representative in the men’s game. 🚨#news l Manika and Manav lose their opening group stage match at the ITTF World Cup 2026🏆 🇮🇳 Manika Batra lost 3-0 (18-16, 11-4, 11-6) to Japan’s Miwa Harimoto 🇯🇵 While 🇮🇳 Manav Thakkar, went down 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-8) to Korea’s Park Gang-hyeon 🇰🇷 Only the top 16 group… pic.twitter.com/0WItamFWkI — The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) March 30, 2026 Meanwhile, Manika Batra lost to a higher-ranked Miwa Harimoto of Japan 3-0 (16-18, 4-11, 6-11). The world no 47 Indian will be up against Olympian Lily Zhang, ranked 42nd, …

ITTF World Team Table Tennis C’ships: Manika Batra, Manav lead India’s charge

Manika Batra, Manav Thakkar lead India’s challenge – Preview

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India’s top paddlers, led by Manika Batra and Manav Thakkar, are set to take on the world’s best as the ITTF World Cup 2026 begins on March 30 in Macao, China. With 96 players competing across men’s and women’s singles events, the tournament promises high-quality action, and India will be represented by three players: Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula in the women’s draw, and Manav Thakkar in the men’s competition. Tough Group Stage draws for Indian players The tournament begins with a round-robin group stage, where 48 players in each draw are split into 16 groups of three. Only the group winners progress to the knockout stage. Manika Batra finds herself in a challenging Group 4 alongside World No. 5, Miwa Harimoto (Japan), and World No. 42 Lily Zhang (USA). Ranked 47th, Batra will need a strong showing to break through. Sreeja Akula, placed in Group 2, faces an even tougher test with World No. 2 Wang Manyu (China) and Fu Yu (Portugal). Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, Manav Thakkar is grouped with World No. …

Manav Thakkar, Manika Batra off to disappointing start

Indian campaign ends as Manika Batra exits in R16

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India’s star paddler Manika Batra’s solid run ended in the pre-quarterfinal of the 2026 WTT Star Contender Doha, losing to Macao’s Zhu Yuling in Qatar on Saturday. Manika, the only Indian to qualify for the round of 16, fell short of the World No.5 Yuling in a straight-game, 6-11, 5-11, 9-11, match that lasted for just 23 minutes. Earlier, she had two good wins against the reigning U19 World Champion Yu-Xuan Qin of China and the 16th-seeded Lee Eunhye of South Korea to reach the last 16. She was fully dominated by Zhu from the start and was able to score just 11 points from the first two games, and was looking at a dreadful defeat. She didn’t lose her hope and came in strongly in the third game, taking a good 9-6 lead, but then she lost her momentum and lost five straight points. Earlier, the other three Indian women’s singles players in the main draw, Ayhika Mukherjee, Swastika Ghosh and Taneesha Kotech, faced a first-round exit. In men’s singles, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Manush Shah …