Table tennis legend Sharath Kamal has broken his silence on Manika Batra’s Asian Games
Indian table tennis icon Achanta Sharath Kamal has broken her silence on the controversy surrounding Manika Batra’s exclusion from the Indian team for the upcoming Asian Games, stressing that the country’s strongest players should ultimately represent India in its quest for medals.
On the sidelines of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) athletes’ forum on Friday, Sharath refrained from directly commenting on the decision taken by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) which dropped Manika from the Asian Games team for failure to meet selection criteria related to participation in domestic competitions.
“I can’t say much about it as I am not part of the selection committee. But I just hope the best players are there so that India can win medals,” Sharath told PTI.
However, the veteran hinted that the matter may not be completely closed, hinting that there may still be options to resolve the situation.
“I think it’s not over yet. There could be ways that we can figure out a way for him to get into the team. But again, it’s not up to me,” he added.
WHY DID MANIKA LEAVE?
According to Sharath, the TTFI has asked the IOA to consider extending the timeline for finalizing entries as a key tournament that could affect the rankings is still ongoing.
As part of the selection policy, players ranked among the top 50 in the world received automatic qualification. While Manika has been India’s leading women’s table tennis player for several years, she was ranked No. 51 in the world as of the relevant cut-off date.
“A certain date was decided when the selection process would take place. At that exact moment, she did not meet the criteria,” explained Sharath.
Manika questioned the selection normswith the fact that long-term performance at the highest level should have been included in the final composition of the team.
RULES OR FLEXIBILITY
Asked whether exceptional artists should receive special attention, Sharath maintained a balanced stance.
“There are certain rules. For certain players, if you want to bend those rules, it’s up to the federation. But ultimately we should make sure that the best players are selected for the team,” he said.
The seven-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist also noted that selection disputes are becoming more common ahead of major multi-sport events, making it important for federations to find a middle ground that serves the interests of both athletes and teams.
INDIA’S CHANCES IN ASIAN GAMES
Looking ahead to the Asian Games in Japan later this year, Sharath expressed confidence in India’s growing strength in table tennis.
He highlighted the depth of both the men’s and women’s squads, pointing to India’s highly rated doubles combinations and stronger bench strength compared to previous generations.
Sharath, who will serve as the vice-chef of the Indian contingent, also acknowledged the logistical challenges the games pose due to multiple groups of athletes instead of one village.
Despite expecting a tough challenge, he said India will aim to match or surpass its historic 107-medal haul from the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where the country finished fourth overall.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
19 Jun 2026 20:02 IST