Manika Batra, the most well-known table tennis player in India, was left out from the national team for this year’s Asian Games on Thursday due to her failure to meet the TTFI’s selection standards.
Manika is not included in the Table Tennis Federation of India’s (TTFI) rankings due to her lack of participation in domestic events. From September 19 to October 4, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan will host the 20th Asian Games. Manika and Swastika Ghosh are in the reserves.
According to the most recent ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) rankings, Manika, who has won numerous medals at the Commonwealth Games and a historic mixed doubles bronze at the 2018 Asian Games, is now India’s second-best female player at 51, behind Sreeja Akula, who is ranked 45th. Players are chosen by TTFI using both national and international 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.
Table tennis competitions during the Asian Games will take place from September 20 to September 28. According to the 2023 selection policy, national rankings receive 50% of the weight, international rankings receive 40%, and the selection committee retains 10%.
Sreeja is in charge of a well-rounded team that blends seasoned players with up-and-coming potential in Manika’s absence. Syndrela Das, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, and Sutirtha Mukherjee make up a formidable team that can take on the best teams on the continent.
Alongside national icons Manav Vikas Thakkar and Manush Shah, the men’s team will be led by seasoned campaigners G. Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai.
After a string of outstanding performances both domestically and internationally, youngster Payas Jain has also won his spot in the five-person team. Ronit Bhanja and Ankur Bhattacharjee are still available as reserves.
“The selection highlights India’s growing strength across both genders. By adhering to objective criteria based on world and national rankings, the federation has rewarded consistency and performance over an extended period. The inclusion of reserve players for both men and women also ensures that the squad remains prepared for any unforeseen circumstances before the Game,” TTFI added.
The top players from the continent, including China, Japan, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei, are anticipated to compete in the table tennis sport at the Asian Games.
