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.
India's men's and women's table tennis teams are set to compete in the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships in London, with both teams aiming for a deeper run than their previous outing.
India's deputy chef-de-mission, A Sharath Kamal, has downplayed concerns regarding the unique container room and cruise ship accommodation for athletes at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. He stated that Indian athletes have been prepared for these arrangements through mock setups at SAI centres. Kamal also expressed confidence in India's table tennis team, predicting at least one medal, specifically highlighting the men's doubles and mixed doubles pairs.
The Sports Ministry has suspended the Table Tennis Federation of India's recognition due to governance issues, including delayed elections, and has directed the Indian Olympic Association to form an ad-hoc committee to manage the sport.
Asian Games bronze medallist Ayhika Mukherjee led HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades to a 9-6 victory over Ahmedabad APL Pipers in Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7, marking Sofia Polcanova's first defeat and boosting Kolkata's playoff chances.
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.
India's Manika Batra and Mouma Das lost 3-0 to Tianwei Feng and Mengyu Yu of Singapore in the women's sinlges final.
India's table tennis star Manika Batra produced a dominant performance to defeat America's Lily Zhang 3-0 to advance into the women's singles pre-quarterfinals of the WTT Champions in Montpellier, France on Wednesday.
National champion Harmeet Desai, ranked 86th in the world in men's singles, is seeded 49th. He will make his Olympic debut.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday
It was a mixed day for India as several others, including G Sathiyan crashed out of the tournament.
Manav Thakkar joins UP Prometheans with Yang Liu, while Divya Chitale remains the highest-valued Indian player at the UTT auction. Bernadette Szocs tops the auction, joining Dempo Goa Challengers. The seventh season will be held in Goa from July 9-26.
Ace Indian paddler and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manika Batra will take on Great Britain's Anna Hursey in the women's singles opening round
Manika Batra thanked aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and his office for their 'prompt' action.
Manika Batra is the first Indian woman paddler to break into the top-25 in table tennis world rankings.
Manika Batra is the first Indian player to make it to the top eight of a WTT Champions tournament.
With PBG Bengaluru Smashers needing just one point to win the contest, USA paddler Lily Zhang beat Puneri Paltan's Yashini Sivashankar to get her team over the line.
While Sharath lost on Monday, Sathiyan could not do much against the mighty world number nine Dang Qiu of Germany, losing 6-11, 6-11, 5-11, 7-11 on Tuesday.
Later in the day, the Indian women's doubles pair of Diya Chitale and Sreeja Akula will take on Korean combination of Jihee Jeon and Shin Yubin in the semi-finals.
The star Indian paddler is not taking too much pressure and wants to keep her focus.
In the men's doubles, Indian duo of Manav Vikash Thakkar and Manush Utpalbhai Shah defeated Mohamed Shaffan Ismail and Moosa Munsif Ahmed of the Maldives 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2) to enter the round of 16.
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.
Star paddler Manika Batra played a crucial part as PBG Bengaluru Smashers defeated Jaipur Patriots 11-4 to take a significant step towards playoff qualification in the IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis tournament on Thursday.
Manika Batra went down fighting to Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico 3-4 in the round of 32 at the World Table Tennis Championships in Durban.
Commonwealth Games gold medalist Manika Batra said reading books, meditation, and watching TV series are some of the activities which is helping her spend time during the coronavirus enforced nationwide lockdown. The Indian table tennis star also stressed the importance of working on physical fitness and staying positive as the country continues to reel under the pandemic.
Manika Batra led from the front as India prevailed over higher-ranked Romania 3-2 in a thrilling tie
Manika Batra has become the first Indian woman table tennis player to enter the quarterfinals of an elite WTT event following her victory over world number 14 Nina Mittelham at the Grand Smash event in Jeddah.
Veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal made a shock exit from the Paris Olympics men's singles competition.
India's tally to two medals with one silver and one bronze.
Manika Batra shocked World No. 2 Wang Manyu of China to secure the biggest win of her singles career.
Veteran Sharath Kamal and world no. 24 Manika Batra will lead the Indian men's and women's squads respectively at the Paris Games, where the country will make its Olympic debut in team events.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manika Batra progressed to the women's singles quarter-finals but veterans Sharath Kamal and Gnanasekaran Sathiyan crashed out.
In the semi-finals, Manika will meet the winner of the match between Korea's Jeon Jihee and Japan's Mima Ito.
Manika, the highest ranked Indian in women's singles, got off to a flying start early in the first session, defeating 152nd ranked Englishwoman Ho Tin-Tin 3-0 (11-4,11-8,11-5).
Janendra Jain and Parth Goswami are the two lawyers in the panel while Yashpal Rana is the other member.
Manika Batra was knocked out of the World Singles Olympic Qualification Tournament after she suffered a 1-4 defeat to Monaco's Xiaoxin Yang in the women's singles stage-I semi-final match in Doha on Monday.
Indian ace Manika Batra's impressive run in the Paris Olympics came to an end in Paris on Wednesday with a 1-4 defeat at the hands of higher-ranked Japanese Miu Hirano in the women's singles pre-quarterfinals.
Manika Batra's sensational run at the Commonwealth Games fetched her another medal on Sunday. Teaming up with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran she bagged the mixed doubles bronze, thereby winning a medal in every event she competed in at the Gold Coast Games .
Manika Batra and Archana Kamath defeated Hungary's Dora Madarasz and Georgina Pota 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7 in the women's doubles round of 16.
India's Manika Batra and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran tasted instant success on their return as a mixed doubles pairing by winning the title at the WTT Contender in Budapest on Friday.
