Manika had previously questioned the transparency and consistency of the selection process, while the TTFI has maintained that the team was picked in accordance with its selection policy. | Photo Credit: AFP

Barring a dramatic reversal, star paddler Manika Batra’s hopes of competing at the 2026 Asian Games appear over after the 31-year-old on Friday accused the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) of violating its own Constitution during the selection process, while admitting she was “mentally exhausted” and was “putting the sword down.”

Manika, who was named as a reserve in India’s 10-member squad for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, alleged that the federation’s nine-member selection committee breached Article 24(C)(j) of the TTFI Constitution, which states that no sub-committee can have more than seven members.

“A nine-member committee decided my fate, yet I am being told that the process was fully compliant with the Constitution and the rules,” Manika wrote in a social media statement, adding that documents in her possession contradicted the federation’s claims.

Despite raising concerns over the selection process, the three-time Olympian said she would not pursue the matter further.

“I am mentally exhausted with this fight and for now, I am putting my sword down,” she said, adding that her focus would now shift to representing India at an ongoing tournament in the United States.

The TTFI, however, maintained that the squad was selected strictly according to its policy, which gives 50 per cent weightage to national rankings, 40 per cent to world rankings and 10 per cent to the selectors’ discretion.

Manika’s absence from several domestic events affected her national ranking despite being India’s second-highest-ranked women’s singles player internationally. The women’s squad will be led by Sreeja Akula and also includes Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Syndrela Das.

Published on Jun 26, 2026