Manika Batra questions Asian Games snub, seeks clarity on selection

Last Updated:June 18, 2026, 23:52 IST

Manika Batra questions her exclusion from the Asian Games 2026 squad, seeks transparent explanation from TTFI, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Indian Olympic Association

India’s table tennis star Manika Batra on Thursday raised concerns about “the consistency of application of selection norms" after she was left out of the Asian Games squad for not fulfilling the criteria set by the TTFI.

The 31-year-old was excluded because she skipped domestic events and therefore does not appear in the Table Tennis Federation of India rankings. She has been named among the reserves alongside Swastika Ghosh.

“My exclusion from the Asian Games 2026 squad is deeply disheartening, not only because of the outcome, but because of the manner in which the selection criteria appear to have been interpreted and applied. No specific reason has been communicated to me," Manika said in a statement.

“A key concern remains the consistency of application of selection norms. If discretion forms even a small part of the process, then the manner in which it is applied must be transparent, uniform, and clearly recorded. Any variation in its application naturally raises questions of fairness and equal treatment."

She said she has never asked for special treatment in almost two decades of representing India, but expects that the same rules and standards be applied consistently to every athlete.

Manika has sought the intervention of Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the top brass of the Indian Olympic Association in the matter.

She has also asked for a detailed explanation for her non-selection.

“I have formally sought a detailed explanation regarding my non-selection, including the complete basis of the decision, applicable norms, selection criteria, and the manner in which each factor was weighted in my case. I expect a clear, structured, and factual response supported by documented criteria.

“I respectfully request the Hon’ble Sports Minister and the leadership of the Indian Olympic Association to kindly look into this matter to ensure that the process is transparent, consistent, and fair to all athletes. I am seeking full clarity and accountability so that there is no ambiguity in how selection decisions are made at the highest level."

The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.

The table tennis events are scheduled between September 20 and 28.

Manika, who has multiple Commonwealth Games medals and a historic mixed doubles bronze at the 2018 Asian Games, is currently India’s second highest-ranked female player at 51, behind Sreeja Akula, who is 45th in the latest ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) rankings.

Earlier in the day, the TTFI stated that it picks players on the basis of international and national 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.

According to the selection policy drafted in 2023, 50 percent weightage is given to national rankings, 40 percent to world rankings and 10 percent is left to the discretion of the selection committee.

“As per publicly reported information, the selection framework is understood to be based on a combination of World Ranking, National Ranking, and Selection Committee discretion. If this is indeed the case, then transparency requires that each component and its application be clearly explained to the athletes concerned," Manika said.

“I also note that during the previous Asian Games selection cycle, players who were outside similar ranking thresholds in both World Ranking (beyond the top 50) and National Ranking (outside the top 10) were still included in the squad under special considerations and were given special privileges. This makes it important that the present selection clearly explains how the same or similar principles have been applied or not applied in my case."

She said she struggled to understand how rankings alone had become the decisive factor, “outweighing long-standing performance at the highest level".

“With respect to World Ranking, I am currently World No. 51, having moved just outside the Top 50 very recently. The margin is extremely narrow, and I remain very close to that bracket. I have not dropped to a distant range; rather, I am at a marginal difference where movement in either direction can occur within a single ranking cycle.

“In such a context, I find it difficult to understand how this alone becomes a decisive factor outweighing long-standing performance at the highest level. It is also important to highlight that international ranking points operate on a rolling system, where older points are replaced and removed as part of the cycle."

She further argued that rankings do not always capture the full picture of an athlete’s current form, and that consistent high-level international performances should also be weighed.

“Rankings therefore do not always reflect the complete picture of current form. If ranking is being used as a key criterion, then the timeline and sustainability of ranking movement should also be considered, including whether such changes are recent or sustained over time… My current form reflects consistency at a high international level.

“If rankings and numbers are to be the primary basis of selection, it is also important to recognise that ranking fluctuations are dynamic for all athletes within the same competitive cycle and can change significantly over short periods."

On the national ranking criteria, she said, “Regarding National Ranking considerations, I understand that domestic performance has been cited in the selection discussion. However, with the increasing number of international tournaments and the demands of maintaining consistent performance at the highest global level, it is not always feasible to participate in every domestic event.

“Throughout my career, my focus has been on representing India in international competitions consistently, and national ranking should therefore be viewed in the context of these international commitments rather than in isolation."

(With PTI Inputs)

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Aakash Biswas

A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I...Read More

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