India’s most high-profile table tennis player, Manika Batra, has missed out on a place in the national squad for this year’s Asian Games after failing to satisfy the Table Tennis Federation of India’s selection norms. Her omission stems from skipping key domestic tournaments, which have left her out of the Table Tennis Federation of India’s (TTFI) national rankings and, therefore, ineligible for automatic selection. The 20th Asian Games are scheduled in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, and Manika has been named only among the reserves, alongside Swastika Ghosh.
Manika, a multiple Commonwealth Games medallist and winner of a historic mixed doubles bronze at the 2018 Asian Games, remains India’s second-highest-ranked woman in the world
at 51, with Sreeja Akula ahead of her at 45 in the latest ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) standings.
TTFI bases its team selection on a combination of international and domestic 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.
The table tennis competitions at the Asian Games will run from September 20 to 28. Under the selection policy introduced in 2023, national rankings account for 50 percent of the points, world rankings contribute 40 percent, and the remaining 10 percent is left to the selectors’ discretion.
With Manika not in the main line-up, Sreeja will front a well-rounded women’s squad that blends seasoned names with promising youngsters.
Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee, and Syndrela Das complete a strong group expected to compete hard against the best in Asia.
The men’s side will be led by experienced internationals G Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai, supported by established national performers Manav Vikas Thakkar and Manush Shah.
Rising player Payas Jain has secured the fifth spot in the team after a string of notable results on both the domestic circuit and the international tour.
Among the standbys, Ankur Bhattacharjee and Ronit Bhanja have been listed 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 Asian Games table tennis field is expected to include the continent’s leading contenders, with traditional heavyweights China, Japan, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei set to headline the competition.
(With PTI Inputs)
