Manika Batra questions Asian Games omission, seeks ‘clear and factual’ explanation

India’s leading women’s paddler Manika Batra has escalated her standoff with the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), hinting at legal action if she is not provided a “clear and factual explanation” for her omission from the Asian Games squad.

“If I do not receive satisfactory answers regarding the basis of this decision, I will be left with no option but to explore all remedies available to me, including legal recourse through my legal team. That is why I have requested the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Sports Minister to look into this matter,” Manika said in a statement on Wednesday (June 24, 2026).

“Not because I want a place in the team. Not because I want special treatment. But because I believe every athlete deserves transparency, consistency, and accountability in the selection process. I have represented India with pride for almost twenty years, and all I am asking for today is a fair and honest explanation. And just to be absolutely clear once again — I am asking questions, not special consideration.”

The World No. 51, who missed out on the five-member women’s squad after failing to satisfy the selection criteria, has consistently maintained that her fight is against the process rather than the outcome. The Hindu had earlier reported that she had also written to the TTFI, the Sports Ministry, the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Authority of India seeking an explanation for her exclusion.

Manika also questioned the voting process that eventually decided the final berth in the women’s team. The Hindu understands that the nine-member selection committee met virtually twice to finalise the Asian Games squad. While the first four names were undisputed, the final place was contested by Sutirtha Mukherjee, Swastika Ghosh and Manika. With no consensus emerging, the selectors voted 5-3 against Manika, with one member abstaining.

“If that is true, then I believe athletes have a right to know who made those decisions and on what basis. What were the reasons? Were they documented? Were they communicated? Were conflict of interests disclosed?” Manika asked.

“Can any system that relies on voting be completely free from bias, personal opinions, or past differences? If so, what safeguards exist to ensure fairness and accountability?”

The composition of the selection committee is also noteworthy. It includes Dronacharya Award recipient Sandeep Gupta, Manika’s childhood coach, with whom she had a highly publicised split in 2019. Since then, Manika has worked with multiple coaches before settling on Hyderabad-based former junior international Aman Balgu, a Mumbai paddler, over the last two years.

Manika also came out in support of Ayhika Mukherjee, who was another notable absentee from the squad despite being part of India’s historic women’s doubles bronze medal-winning partnership with Sutirtha Mukherjee at the 2022 Asian Games.

“I am also surprised to see players with proven records for India being left out. Athletes who have delivered medals and results for the country deserve to know how such decisions were reached,” Manika said.

“Take the example of Ayhika Mukherjee, who was part of India’s historic women’s doubles medal at the last Asian Games. When athletes with such achievements are left out, it naturally raises questions about the criteria and evaluation process that led to these decisions.”

Addressing criticism over her absence from the domestic circuit for the last two seasons, Manika argued that national rankings should be viewed in the context of international commitments.

“I have immense respect for national events and have always been proud to compete in them. But athletes competing regularly on the international circuit often have to manage an intense global calendar, recovery periods, travel, visa processing and preparation for major events,” she said. “Domestic participation cannot be viewed in isolation from international commitments.”

Her latest statement comes amid a growing debate over the TTFI’s selection policy, which allocates 50% weightage to national rankings, 40% to international rankings and 10% to selectors’ ratings. Manika, India’s most accomplished woman paddler, has insisted that transparency and accountability, rather than selection itself, remain at the heart of her challenge.