Manika Batra, India’s leading table tennis player was left out of the main squad for the upcoming Asian Games and she has questioned the process and demanded transparency from the higher-ups.
Manika was named among the reserve players by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). This decision came despite Manika being India’s second-highest-ranked women’s singles player in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings. She appealed to the Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association to review the matter.
In a statement released after the squad announcement, Batra stated, “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. I respectfully request the Hon’ble Sports Minister and the leadership of the Indian Olympic Association to kindly look into this matter to ensure that the process is transparent, consistent, and fair to all athletes.”
Players are selected based on their national rankings, world rankings and selectors’ discretion. Batra stated that if these aspects are used to select players, every player deserves a clear explanation of how those parameters are judged.
She pointed out previous instances where players outside similar ranking thresholds were reportedly included in the squad, stating that it’s crucial to understand how those rules were applied to the current selection process. “If this is indeed the case, then transparency requires that each component and its application be clearly explained to the athletes concerned.”
She’s currently ranked World No. 51. She mentioned that she had only recently dropped out of the top 50 and was not far from that bracket. Manika also stated that a player’s form cannot always be judged based on international rankings.
“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 my case this season, I have been more consistent in performance and have recorded wins against strong international opponents, including U-19 youth champions from China and several other top Asian players. My current form reflects consistency at a high international level.”
She has won 4 Commonwealth Games medals, bronze medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championship. As well as an historic Asian Cup Bronze Medal, making her the first Indian female athlete to win a medal at the championship. Manika is also the recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. About this, she pointed out that she has won several of these awards and these accomplishments should be taken into consideration during selection.
Manika clarified regarding her absence from domestic tournaments, saying it’s difficult to participate in those tournaments while competing in international tournaments. “Throughout my career, my focus has been on representing India in international competitions consistently, and national ranking should therefore be viewed in the context of these international commitments rather than in isolation.”
Even though she wasn’t selected, she reiterated her love and commitment to Indian Table Tennis. Manika also confirmed that she has sought a detailed explanation regarding the criteria and decision-making process. “Athletes dedicate their entire lives to the country, and they deserve a process that is clear, documented, and uniformly applied.”
