New Delhi: The Table Tennis Federation of India has defended the exclusion of star paddler Manika Batra from India’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games, stating that her omission was in accordance with the federation’s existing selection policy.

Responding to the multiple Commonwealth Games gold medallist’s demand for an explanation, the federation said the selection committee had duly considered her candidature before finalising the squad.

Selection based on established criteria

The TTFI maintained that the final team was selected strictly in line with its selection framework and was not influenced by any single factor.

According to the federation’s policy, player selection is determined through a combination of criteria:

  • 50 per cent weightage is given to national rankings.
  • 40 per cent weightage is based on international rankings.
  • The remaining 10 per cent is left to the discretion of the selectors.

Federation officials said the decision was taken after a comprehensive assessment of performances, team balance, medal prospects and strategic requirements.

Lack of national ranking proved costly

Manika, currently ranked World No. 51, reportedly missed out on selection primarily because she did not participate in domestic competitions and therefore did not possess a national ranking at the time of selection.

Under the federation’s rules, an automatic berth in the Asian Games squad would have been available only if she had been inside the top 50 of the International Table Tennis Federation rankings when the team was finalised on June 9.

A federation source said the selection process was conducted in good faith and within the timelines prescribed by the Indian Olympic Association.

Voting held for final squad position

According to federation sources, the first four places in the women’s team were selected unanimously.

However, voting was required for the fifth and final spot in the squad.

Sutirtha Mukherjee emerged as the preferred choice after receiving eight votes from the selectors.

Manika was subsequently named among the reserve players along with Swastika Ghosh.

Manika had questioned transparency

The clarification from the federation comes days after Manika publicly questioned the transparency of the selection process and indicated that she could consider legal options if she did not receive a satisfactory explanation regarding her omission.

The controversy has sparked debate within the Indian table tennis fraternity, given Manika’s stature as one of the country’s most accomplished players and her contributions to Indian table tennis over the years.

India’s final entries for the Asian Games had to be submitted to the Indian Olympic Association by June 10, effectively closing the door on any changes to the squad.

Focus shifts to preparations

With the selection process now complete and the federation standing firmly by its decision, attention is expected to shift towards the team’s preparations for the continental event.

The episode, however, has once again highlighted the challenges and debates surrounding selection policies in Indian sport, particularly when high-profile athletes miss out on major international events.