Three ranking points cost Manik Batra’s Asian Games place

Manika Batra (Image Credit: PTI) MUMBAI: India’s top table tennis player Manika Batra has been left out of the squad for the upcoming Asian Games after failing to meet the selection criteria set by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).In Manika’s absence, the Indian women’s team will be led by Sreeja Akula and consists of Yashaswini Ghorpade, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee and 17-year-old Syndrela Das. Manika and Svastika Ghosh have been named among the reserves for the Games to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4.“The selection process ensured that India’s best and most consistent performers got the opportunity to represent the country at Asia’s biggest multi-sport event,” the TTFI said in a statement.Under the selection policy introduced in 2023, national rankings carry 50 per cent weightage, world rankings account for 40 per cent and the remaining 10 per cent is left to the discretion of the selection committee. Players ranked in the top 50 in the world receive automatic qualification regardless of their national ranking.The omission is likely to spark debate as Manika narrowly missed the automatic qualifying mark. The 31-year-old was ranked 51st in the world at the deadline on June 2, just three points behind the 50th-ranked player.Sources told TOI that the nine-member selection committee was not unanimous in its decision to drop Manika. National team coach Massimo Costantini is also understood to have provided input ahead of the selection meeting.The edges were razor thin. Going into the Round-of-64 at the WTT Star Contender event – ​​the stage Manika would have automatically qualified for – she has five ranking points, enough to make it into the top 50.A multiple Commonwealth Games medalist and part of India’s historic mixed pair that won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games, Manika remains India’s second highest-ranked player behind world number 45 Sreeja Akul.The absence of domestic tournaments this season also counted against her. According to her coach Aman Balga, the selectors may have considered the difficult circumstances she faced in the past year.“Personally, she has been through a lot in the last year. She has also been dealing with a serious injury which has affected the number of competitions she has been able to participate in,” Balgu told TOI.Manika was also weaned for almost two months after the sudden death of her father.“According to our calculations, Manika will be the first Indian player next month. She has done well this year and it is sad that she will not be in the squad,” Balgu added.In the men’s section, the country’s top rowers Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah will lead the Indian challenge. Veteran batsmen G. Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai have also been included, while youngster Payas Jain completes the five-man squad.