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 India suspends table tennis federation recognition over governance crisis

NEW DELHI, Aug 12 (Reuters) — India’s sports ministry suspended recognition of the Table Tennis Federation of India on Wednesday over governance failures, plunging the sport into uncertainty just weeks before the country’s players compete at the Asian Games in Japan.

The ministry cited several deficiencies in the federation’s administration, including the appointment of officials without following proper procedures, failure to conduct elections on time and concerns over the transparency of its athlete-selection process.

The intervention also follows a damaging leadership dispute between TTFI President Meghna Ahlawat and Secretary General Kamlesh Mehta. The ministry said their continuing differences had affected decision-making and could harm the interests of athletes.

The suspension means the federation loses government financial assistance and other benefits attached to its recognition as a national sports federation.

The ministry has asked the Indian Olympic Association to establish an interim administrative mechanism, in consultation with the International Table Tennis Federation, to oversee the sport while the TTFI works towards restoring a compliant governance structure.

The move comes after the ministry issued the TTFI a show-cause notice on June 30. The federation responded on July 7, but the ministry said its explanation did not adequately address the concerns raised.

The crisis has intensified scrutiny of India’s preparations for the Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4. Table tennis is scheduled from Sept. 20 to 28.

One of the most contentious issues has been the selection of star player Manika Batra. India’s leading paddler was initially left out of the main Asian Games squad and placed among the reserves, prompting her to challenge the selection process and threaten legal action against the federation.

Batra subsequently withdrew her threat, citing mental exhaustion, but the dispute added to concerns over the federation’s selection procedures. Reports at the time said she missed the selection cut by only a narrow margin under the federation’s criteria.

The federation has also been embroiled in a dispute involving Mehta. Earlier this year, TTFI suspended its secretary general over alleged financial irregularities, but the decision was later set aside by the Delhi High Court.

India has won three table tennis medals at the Asian Games. Manika Batra and veteran Sharath Kamal claimed mixed-doubles bronze at Jakarta in 2018, while India also won bronze in the men’s team event at the same Games.

India’s most recent Asian Games table tennis medal came at Hangzhou in 2023, when Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee took bronze in the women’s doubles.

With the Asian Games less than six weeks away, the immediate challenge for Indian table tennis authorities will be to ensure that the administrative upheaval does not disrupt preparations or affect the players’ participation in Japan.

The Indian Olympic Association’s proposed interim arrangement is therefore expected to play a crucial role in maintaining continuity while the federation addresses the governance concerns that prompted the suspension.