Manika Batra – The Hindu

India’s main girls’s paddler Manika Batra has escalated her standoff with the Desk Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), hinting at authorized motion if she isn’t offered a “clear and factual clarification” for her omission from the Asian Video games squad.

“If I don’t obtain passable solutions relating to the premise of this determination, I might be left with no possibility however to discover all cures accessible to me, together with authorized recourse by means of my authorized group,” Manika mentioned in a press release on Wednesday.

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“Not as a result of I would like a spot within the group. Not as a result of I would like particular remedy. However as a result of I consider each athlete deserves transparency, consistency, and accountability within the choice course of. All I’m asking for in the present day is a good and sincere clarification. And simply to be completely clear as soon as once more — I’m asking questions, not particular consideration.”

The World No. 51, omitted from the five-member girls’s squad after failing to fulfill the choice standards, has maintained that her battle is towards the method quite than the result. Regardless of looking for a proper clarification from the TTFI final week, she is but to obtain a response from the federation.

Manika additionally questioned the voting course of, as reported by The Hindu, that decided the ultimate berth.

“If that’s true, then I consider athletes have a proper to know who made these choices and on what foundation. What have been the explanations? Have been they documented? Have been they communicated? Have been battle of pursuits disclosed?” Manika requested.

“Can any system that depends on voting be utterly free from bias, private opinions, or previous variations? In that case, what safeguards exist to make sure equity and accountability?”

The choice committee, chaired by TTFI president Meghna Ahlawat, consists of Dronacharya Award recipient Sandeep Gupta, Manika’s childhood coach, with whom she parted methods in 2019.

Manika additionally backed Ayhika Mukherjee, who partnered Sutirtha Mukherjee to India’s historic girls’s doubles bronze on the 2022 Asian Video games however missed out this time.

“I’m additionally shocked to see gamers with confirmed data for India being ignored. Athletes who’ve delivered medals and outcomes for the nation should understand how such choices have been reached,” she mentioned.

Addressing criticism over skipping home tournaments for the final two seasons, Manika added: “Athletes competing repeatedly on the worldwide circuit usually should handle an intense world calendar, restoration durations, journey, visa processing and preparation for main occasions. Home participation can’t be seen in isolation from worldwide commitments.”