New Delhi, 19 June (H.S.):

India's star table tennis player Manika Batra has raised questions over the selection process after being left out of the Indian squad for the 2026 Asian Games. She has urged Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to examine the matter and ensure that the selection process is transparent, accountable and fair.

The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) announced the Indian squad with G. Sathiyan leading the men's team and Sreeja Akula heading the women's team. The women's squad comprises Sreeja Akula, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Swastika Ghosh. Manika Batra has been named among the reserve players.

In a statement shared on social media, Manika said that while being excluded from the main squad was disappointing, her greater concern was the manner in which the selection criteria had been applied. She stated that she had not been informed of the specific reasons for her exclusion.

According to Manika, publicly available information suggests that the selection process was based on world rankings, national rankings and the discretion of the selection committee. She said that if these were indeed the criteria, players should be clearly informed about how each factor was assessed and the weight assigned to each of them during the selection process.

The 31-year-old also pointed out that she is currently ranked World No. 51 and is just outside the top 50. She said minor fluctuations in world rankings are common and that it was difficult to understand how such a marginal difference could justify her omission from the main squad.

Highlighting her recent performances on the international circuit, Manika said she has maintained consistent form this season and has registered important victories over several top Asian players, including competitors from China. She maintained that her current performances demonstrate that she remains highly competitive at the international level.

She also questioned the emphasis placed on participation in domestic tournaments, stating that athletes who compete regularly on the international circuit cannot always participate in every domestic competition because of their demanding schedules.

Manika further expressed concern over the use of discretionary powers in the selection process. She said that if discretion is exercised at any stage, it should be applied in a transparent, consistent and well-documented manner. She has sought a detailed explanation from the federation regarding the reasons for her exclusion, the criteria applied and the decision-making process followed.

Manika Batra is widely regarded as one of India's most accomplished table tennis players. She has won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze at the Commonwealth Games, besides claiming a bronze medal at the Asian Games. She also became the first Indian player to reach the Round of 16 in the women's singles event at the Asian Games.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar