There is already considerable chatter around India’s table tennis team selection for the Asian Games. Manika Batra has publicly questioned the process and even posted on X, tagging the PMO and the Sports Minister. While Manika has spoken out, others like Ankur Bhattacharjee have also been overlooked despite having a significantly higher world ranking and strong performances, including wins over Chinese stars such as Hang Bo. Table tennis WhatsApp groups, comprising former stars and some current players, have been abuzz with these selections and how they may not benefit the Indian team in Nagoya.
The question to ask is: do Manika or Ankur have a case? Is it true that the selections lack transparency and consistency? Do their arguments carry merit and logic?
The overwhelming answer appears to be yes. According to the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) selection rules, 50 per cent weightage is given to domestic competitions, 40 per cent to international events, and 10 per cent is left to the selectors’ discretion. The fundamental question is: how can international performances be rated lower than domestic competitions? Which are more important? How can players excelling on the international stage receive fewer points than in domestic tournaments?
Consistency is another key issue. At the 2023 Asian Games, Sharath Kamal was selected despite a world ranking of 54 and a national ranking of 15. It was, rightly, considered an inspired decision, as Sharath was India’s best bet. Why the same logic does not apply to Manika is a question that needs to be asked.
One of the players who was part of the previous Asian Games squad said, on condition of anonymity: “You can’t overlook Manika. She is absolutely critical if we are to win a medal. This is a very strange selection, and the eventual loser here is India. Without her, our chances of winning a medal go down drastically, and we cannot just be content with competing.”
Ankur’s case is equally strong. He is currently ranked 84, higher than Harmeet Desai (87) and Payas Jain (104). He has also beaten leading Chinese players recently – something former players have been particularly enthusiastic about. Currently in Slovenia for a competition, Ankur too has been overlooked.
The key questions remain: what exact rules are being followed? Were players informed well in advance so they could plan their schedules accordingly? Were the rules amended without proper communication? Most importantly, has the best possible team been selected?
Sadly, for Indian table tennis, this is not the first such instance. Manika previously had to approach the courts to secure her rights, and won. A senior administrator sounded furious when contacted. “The team selection is a disaster,” he said. “They are destroying our chances of winning a medal, or even competing effectively. Are you seriously going to field a domestic player in Nagoya when 60 per cent weightage is effectively being given to domestic competitions?”
What remains to be seen now is whether the Sports Minister intervenes to set things right. Will there be corrective action, or will such selection decisions continue to define Indian table tennis? The answer could shape the future of the sport.
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