Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has threatened legal action against the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) if she is not provided a 'factual explanation' for her omission from the Asian Games squad.
India has announced a calendar of 29 international sporting events over the next two years, aiming to bolster its credentials as a host nation. This strategic move is part of its larger goal to secure bids for the 2036 Olympic Games, the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the 2038 Asian Games, showcasing its capacity to host large-scale multi-sport spectacles.
Sutirtha Mukherjee's dominant performance in women's singles secured a crucial 3-2 victory for Dabang Delhi TTC against Kolkata ThunderBlades in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league. Despite Ankur Bhattacharjee's upset win over G Sathiyan, Mukherjee's clean sweep in the final match sealed the tie for Delhi.
Ahmedabad APL Pipers secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over U Mumba TT in their Ultimate Table Tennis match in Panaji, despite ace Indian paddler Manika Batra losing her singles match. Trailing 0-2, Ahmedabad mounted a spirited comeback, winning the last three matches, including a crucial mixed doubles and men's singles, to clinch the tie. The report also covers Dabang Delhi TTC's 3-2 win over Kolkata ThunderBlades, highlighted by Sutirtha Mukherjee's dominant performance.
Star Indian table tennis player Manika Batra has accused the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) of violating its own Constitution during the selection of the Asian Games squad, where she was named a reserve. Batra claims a nine-member committee, exceeding the constitutional limit, finalised the team, leading to her "mental exhaustion" from the ongoing fight.
Tamil Nadu table tennis player I.M. Louis Raj died after collapsing on court during a match at the 32nd National Masters Table Tennis Championships in Pune. The cause of death was cardiac arrest.
On Friday Ma, one of the true greats in Table Tennis, wrote his name into the history books by becoming China's most decorated Olympian with six golds in all, dating back to the London 2012 Games.
Manika Batra led from the front as India prevailed over higher-ranked Romania 3-2 in a thrilling tie
India is set to host 11 international sporting events in the next six months, including the Badminton World Championships. The Sports Ministry has pledged to provide top-notch facilities, addressing previous criticisms of playing conditions, and is actively preparing for future Olympic bids.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed confidence that Indian fencers will secure medals at the upcoming Asian Games and qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He emphasized the need to popularize fencing in India, highlighting its potential to capture the youth's imagination and its significant medal opportunities at the Olympics. Rijiju also commented on the government's non-interference policy regarding sports federations' internal affairs, specifically addressing the Manika Batra selection issue.
Soumyajit Ghosh edged out stalwarts like Sharath Kamal and Anthony Amalraj to book a berth to the London Games.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) CEO Raghuram Iyer announced that India will send 125-130 athletes to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, participating in eight able-bodied and four para sports. The IOA is also preparing for the Asian Games and is in talks with the IOC for India's 2036 Olympic bid in Ahmedabad, which is also set to host the 2030 CWG. Iyer clarified that the IOA will not interfere in athlete selection matters.
Manika Batra secures a vital win at the ITTF Table Tennis World Cup, while Sreeja Akula faces defeat. Manav Thakkar faces a must-win situation.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan's University of Tsukuba to facilitate specialised training and exchange programmes for Indian athletes, coaches, and sports scientists. This partnership aims to enhance cooperation in various sports-related fields and boost India's international competitiveness, especially in disciplines like athletics, archery, table tennis, swimming, and judo.
It said it was also cancelling all veterans tour events and Table Tennis X events for the entire year while looking into cost-cutting measures to meet the financial challenges.
Vikramaditya Chaufla and Sidharth Nandal emerged as top performers at the All India Racketlon Open in Mumbai, securing multiple medals. Chaufla won two golds and a silver, while Nandal bagged two golds, showcasing their prowess in the multi-racket sport.
The Delhi government has signed a tripartite MoU with the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) to host international school badminton and wrestling events in 2027. This initiative aims to strengthen Delhi's sports ecosystem, provide young athletes with international exposure, and bolster India's global sporting identity.
India's women's table tennis team secured a 3-2 victory against Ukraine in a closely contested match at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals qualifiers, boosting their chances of topping Group 6.
Four members of the Bengal Table Tennis girls team were physically assaulted at a guest house in Pondicherry.
They showed nerve of steel to pull off a thrilling 3-2 upset over Chinese Taipei.
Mulls scrapping individual world championships
Former first-class cricketer and coach Kiran Powar is set to launch a multi-sports facility near Mumbai and Pune, aiming to nurture young talent and promote active lifestyles.
Kamal had lifted the Oman Open last month and took a leap of seven spots in the latest senior men's rankings released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) to grab the 31st position.
The Sports Ministry, led by Mansukh Mandaviya, has announced stringent selection criteria for the upcoming Asian Games, capping the contingent at 600 athletes. The policy prioritises medal prospects, stating that the Games are not for "exposure tours" or securing jobs. This includes a "realistic chance of winning a medal" and being in the top six continental rankings. The ministry will scrutinise recommendations from National Sports Federations, with specific cases like equestrian Anush Agarwalla and table tennis player Manika Batra highlighting the new approach.
Former Indian table tennis star Virendra "Monty" Merchant, 64, died in Washington on Wednesday. Merchant, who is is survived by his American wife and mother, was cremated on Thursday.
The two Koreas will field a combined women's team at the table tennis world championships after the nations decided not to compete against each other in the quarter-finals, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) said on Thursday.
Indian men created history in the 16th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship by claiming the gold medal in the team event for the first time.
15-year-old Divyanshi Bhowmick has become the youngest Indian woman to win a WTT Feeder Women's Singles title, defeating Chinese Taipei's Yeh Yi-Tian in a thrilling final. She also secured gold in Women's Doubles with Syndrela Das.
Former World champion Peter Karlsson said that India has the potential to be a top nation in table tennis and the next 10-15 years will augur well for the sport in the country.
completed a sweep of all four golds in table tennis at the London Olympics with a 3-0 victory over South Korea in the men's team final on Wednesday.
The men's team had outclassed Barbados, Singapore and Northern Ireland by identical 3-0 margin in the group stage to make the quarter-finals.
India have won the men's table tennis gold beating Nigeria 3-0 in the final
A treat awaits for people of all ages on OTT this week. Sukanya Verma lists your options for the week, right here.
The Delhi High Court has upheld the Equestrian Federation of India's (EFI) selection process for the Asian Games dressage team, dismissing petitions from riders Anush Agarwalla and Sudipti Hajela. The court found no arbitrariness or procedural impropriety, reinforcing the principle that judicial interference in expert selection bodies is limited. Challenges regarding Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs), criteria interpretation, and bias were all rejected.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated new sports infrastructure facilities at SAI NCoE Gandhinagar, reinforcing the government's commitment to building world-class sporting ecosystems. The new facilities aim to strengthen athlete preparation through integrated support in training, recovery, nutrition, sports science, and mental wellbeing.
Multiple World table tennis champion Peter Karlsson tells Bikash Mohapatra if he can give the experiences he got as a player to other young players, he'd be more than happy.
World men's No.7 Wong Chun Ting of Hong Kong believes that the Ultimate Table Tennis league, which will begin from July 13, will benefit the sport in India.
Indian star Sania Mirza, who is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, spoke about her personal life with actress Neha Dhupia in her chat show No Filter Neha.
Britain's Arthur Fery became only the fourth wildcard to reach the men's singles semifinals at a Grand Slam as his dream Wimbledon run continued with a 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-0 victory over Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday.
The Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) National Convention will be held in Delhi from March 13 to 16, marking its return to the city after 23 years and celebrating the Golden Jubilee of SJFI.
