Asking for answers, not selection: Manika Batra on Asian Games snub

India’s top table tennis player Manika Batra has clarified that she is not seeking a place in the Asian Games squad but wants answers over her omission from the team, describing the selection process as lacking transparency.

The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) recently named its squad for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with the 31-year-old Khel Ratna awardee included only among the reserves. The decision sparked debate given Manika’s status as one of India’s most accomplished paddlers and her long-standing success on the international stage.

Advertisement

In a statement, Manika said she had no intention of challenging the selection decision itself but was seeking an explanation for why she was left out.

“For the past two decades, I have had the privilege of representing India at the highest level. Throughout my career, I have accepted victories, defeats, selections, and non-selections. That is a part of table tennis. However, what I find difficult to accept is a lack of clarity and arbitrariness.

“Over the last few days, I have seen many people say that I am seeking a place in the Asian Games team or that I am asking for special consideration.

“Let me state this clearly. I am not asking to be selected. I am not asking anyone to overturn the decision. I am asking for answers. No specific reason for my non-selection has been communicated to me,” she added.

Manika, currently ranked World No. 51, questioned the criteria used by the selectors, arguing that rankings are updated weekly and should not be viewed in isolation.

“Rankings in table tennis are updated every week and operate on a rolling points system. That naturally raises important questions. What timeline was considered while evaluating rankings?

“Was the assessment based on the previous 12 months, six months, the previous two months, or a single weekly ranking snapshot? If an athlete who has consistently been around the Top 50 moves from 50 to 51 over a week or two, does that suddenly make her ineligible? These are questions that deserve clear answers,” she said.

The Olympian also highlighted her recent performances and pointed out that current form is a key factor in selection guidelines.

“My performances this season have been strong. I have recorded victories against top Asian players and highly-rated Chinese opponents. I believe current form and performances should also be part of the evaluation process,” she noted.

Manika further questioned reports that the final selections were decided through a voting process and sought greater transparency about how decisions were made.

“I have been informed that the final selection involved a voting process. If that is true, then I believe athletes have a right to know who made those decisions and on what basis,” she said.
The 2018 Asian Games medallist also cited the exclusion of Asian Games medallist Ayhika Mukherjee as another example that raises questions about the selection process.

Concluding her statement, Manika, a multiple Commonwealth Games medallist, revealed that she has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and warned that she may pursue legal action if she does not receive a satisfactory explanation.

“If I do not receive satisfactory answers regarding the basis of this decision, I will be left with no option but to explore all remedies available to me, including legal recourse through my legal team. That is why I have requested the Prime Minister and the Sports Minister to look into this matter,” she stated.