Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has appealed to the Sports Ministry for intervention following her exclusion from the national squad for the 2026 Asian Games. The 30-year-old, who is India's highest-ranked female player, was omitted from the team announced by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) earlier this month.
Batra, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist and multiple-time Asian Games medalist, expressed disappointment over the decision and urged the ministry to review the selection process. In her appeal, she highlighted her consistent performance and ranking, which she believes warranted a place in the squad.
The TTFI has defended its selection, citing a combination of current form, head-to-head records, and team composition strategy. However, Batra's camp argues that the selection criteria were not transparently applied.
The Sports Ministry has acknowledged receipt of Batra's representation and is expected to examine the matter. This is not the first time selection disputes have arisen in Indian table tennis, with past instances involving players like Sharath Kamal and G. Sathiyan also leading to ministry interventions.
As of June 19, 2026, no official decision has been announced. The Asian Games are scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September to October 2026.
