Manika Batra openly questions TTFI's selection process after Asian Games 2026 snub, says 'My exclusion is...'

Manika Batra lashes out at TTFI's selection criteria after Asian Games exclusion

The TTFI selection committee unveiled a balanced 10-member squad, evenly split between five men and five women, clarifying in an official statement that selections were strictly anchored to a combination of world and domestic rankings. Even though Batra maintains a strong presence on the global circuit as the World No. 51 and effectively stands as India’s second-highest-ranked female player, her decision to skip the domestic circuit proved costly. By not competing on home soil, she failed to secure a national ranking, which ultimately cost her the selectors' backing.

ALSO READ: Massive blow to India Women's T20 World Cup campaign, star player likely to miss entire tournament due to injury

The fine print of the TTFI's policy reveals how close the star paddler came to an automatic berth; a place in the world's top 50 would have guaranteed her selection regardless of domestic appearances. This rule worked heavily in favor of Sreeja Akula, who secured her ticket to the Games as the World No. 45, comfortably bypassing the domestic ranking requirement despite sitting at a modest 27th place on the national ladder.

I have never asked for special treatment: Batra

Following the Asian Games snub, Batra openly questioned the TTFI's selection procedure and ended up requesting the Sports Minister and IOA to look into the matter in order to ensure transparency.  

"For almost two decades, I have dedicated my life to representing India. Every medal, every achievement, and every milestone has come while wearing the Indian jersey. I have never asked for special treatment. I have only expected that the same rules and standards be applied consistently to every athlete. 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. 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," Batra's official statement read.

ALSO READ: BCCI ends suspense on rumored punishment for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following on-field fight with SL A cricketer

'I am seeking full clarity and accountability'

"I am seeking full clarity and accountability so that there is no ambiguity in how selection decisions are made at the highest level. 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. 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."

'Rankings therefore do not always reflect the complete picture of current form'

"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. 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. In my case this season, I have been more consistent in performance and have recorded wins against strong international opponents, including U-19 youth champions from China and several other top Asian players."

"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. 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."

"My achievements are part of India’s sporting record and must be consistently and transparently accounted for in any selection framework. 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."

'I expect a clear, structured, and factual response'

"Any variation in its application naturally raises questions of fairness and equal treatment. 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," she concluded.

India's Table Tennis squad for Asian Games 2026:

Women's squad: Sreeja Akula, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das

Men's squad: G Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, Payas Jain

Reserves: Manika Batra, Ankur Bhattacharjee, Ronit Bhanja, Swastika Ghosh