Manika Batra has been dropped from India’s national table tennis squad for this year’s Asian Games after she did not meet the selection criteria set by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). The decision was attributed to her absence from domestic events, which meant she does not feature in the TTFI rankings used in the selection process.
The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4, with table tennis events scheduled between September 20 and 28. Batra has been named among the reserves, alongside Swastika Ghosh.
Batra remains one of India’s most recognisable players, with multiple Commonwealth Games medals and a historic mixed doubles bronze at the 2018 Asian Games. In the latest ITTF rankings referenced in the report, she is India’s second highest-ranked female player at 51, behind Sreeja Akula at 45.
Why TTFI left Batra out: rankings-based selection policy
TTFI said the selection was made using objective criteria based on international and national rankings. The federation stated: “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.”
According to the selection policy drafted in 2023, the weightage is split across three components: 50 percent for national rankings, 40 percent for world rankings, and 10 percent left to the discretion of the selection committee. The report noted that Batra’s exclusion was linked to her absence from domestic events, which resulted in her not being listed in the TTFI rankings that form a major part of the evaluation.
TTFI also framed the selection as a reflection of broader depth in Indian table tennis across both men’s and women’s squads. The federation added that the approach “has rewarded consistency and performance over an extended period,” while also pointing to the inclusion of reserves as a way to keep the group prepared for “any unforeseen circumstances before the Game.”
Women’s squad led by Sreeja Akula
With Batra not in the main group, Sreeja Akula is set to lead what the report described as a balanced squad blending experience and emerging talent. The women’s unit named includes Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee, and Syndrela Das.
Batra and Swastika Ghosh have been listed as reserves for the women’s side, keeping them on standby ahead of the competition window in Japan.
Men’s squad: Sathiyan and Desai head a five-member group
The men’s team will be spearheaded by experienced campaigners G. Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai. They are joined by Manav Vikas Thakkar and Manush Shah, with Payas Jain also making the five-member squad after what the report described as a series of impressive performances on the domestic circuit and international stage.
Ankur Bhattacharjee and Ronit Bhanja have been named as reserves on the men’s side.
What it means for India at the Asian Games
India’s table tennis contingent will head into the Asian Games facing a field expected to include the continent’s elite, with China, Japan, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei highlighted as leading powerhouses. The selection call around Batra underscores the federation’s emphasis on participation in domestic events and adherence to a rankings-driven framework.
For India, the immediate focus now shifts to how the chosen squads settle into preparations for the table tennis schedule running from September 20 to 28, with reserves in place for both men and women as the team builds toward Asia’s biggest multi-sport stage.