Manika Batra led from the front as India prevailed over higher-ranked Romania 3-2 in a thrilling tie
The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has clarified that Manika Batra's exclusion from India's Asian Games squad was due to strict adherence to existing selection criteria. Despite her name being considered, Batra did not meet the requirements, primarily lacking a national ranking and not being in the top 50 of international rankings at the time of selection. The decision was a collective one by the selection committee, based on a comprehensive assessment.
India is relying heavily on its boxing, weightlifting, and athletics contingents to maintain its two-decade streak of top-five finishes at the Commonwealth Games, which opens in Glasgow.
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.
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.
Mulls scrapping individual world championships
They showed nerve of steel to pull off a thrilling 3-2 upset over Chinese Taipei.
The men's team crashed out on Wednesday, while the women's team was thrashed by North Korea in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel formally received the Commonwealth Games flag, symbolising the official commencement of preparations for Ahmedabad to host the global sporting event in 2030.
India's para sports athletes scripted history at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as they equalled the haul of all the previous editions put together, winning seven medals, including one gold and silver on Saturday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed India's commitment to hosting the 2036 Olympic Games and unveiled a comprehensive nationwide talent hunt programme aimed at identifying and nurturing sporting talent among children aged five to 15 years.
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.
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.
Indian men created history in the 16th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship by claiming the gold medal in the team event for the first time.
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 achieved its most productive day at the Commonwealth Games, securing a record-breaking seven gold medals in boxing, along with significant successes in judo and para track and field, propelling the nation to fourth place in the medal table.
India have won the men's table tennis gold beating Nigeria 3-0 in the final
Iga Swiatek fought back from a break down in the deciding set to defeat Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 at the Canadian Open.
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.
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.
Indian paddlers enjoyed a rich haul of 10 medals, including four gold, at the 2026 WTT Star Youth Contender and Feeder events in Doha, highlighted by Ahona Roy's top-podium finish in the fiercely contested Under-15 girls' category.
Top seed Gao Ning of Singapore proved his class to score a convincing 4-1 victory at the Indian Open Table Tennis Championship.
India's campaign in table tennis competitions in the Asian Games came to a disappointing end on Thursday with star paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal and Anthony Amalraj bowing out in the pre-quarterfinals of the men's singles event at the Guangzhou Gymnasium.
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.
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.
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.
India is considering including indigenous sports like Kabaddi and Mallakhamb in the 2030 Commonwealth Games, alongside confirmed sports like hockey and cricket.
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.
ONGC launched the 7th Para Games 2026 in New Delhi, featuring around 300 Divyang athletes from eight oil and gas PSUs, highlighting the company's commitment to inclusiveness and employee empowerment.
He has shouldered the burden of Indian table tennis for more than a decade and Sharath Kamal is now happy that the country has finally found a new star in Manika Batra.
Commonwealth Sport president Donald Rukare expressed satisfaction with India's preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, following a multi-city review of venues and infrastructure.
Divyanshi bags U15 TT bronze, U19 boys' team settles for silver
India's captain Vishal Uppal reflects on the team's performance in the Billie Jean King Cup, highlighting missed opportunities and the need for improvement despite a strong finish.
The Sports Ministry wants Hockey India to pick its best teams for the Asian Games, sparking debate about managing player burnout with the World Cup also on the horizon.
A rich talent pool of players promises a bright future for Indian table tennis despite the recent retirement of stalwart Sharath Kamal, said Dronacharya awardee coach Sandeep Gupta.
The Sports Ministry is encouraging Hockey India to nominate its best teams for the Asian Games, amidst discussions about fielding separate teams for the continental event and the World Cup to prevent player burnout.
The Indian men's team did almost the unthinkable by beating fancied Japan 3-1 in the quarter-finals to assure the country its first-ever medal in table tennis in the history of the Asian Games, in Jakarta, on Monday.
Achanta Sharath Kamal is hopeful that India will finish on the podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
As India's remarkable chess revolution gathers momentum, teenagers Rishabh Kumar and Adhiraj Mitra are ensuring that the country's future on the 64 squares remains brighter than ever.
Diya Chitale and Manush Shah are the first-ever Indian pair to qualify for the prestigious WTT Finals to be held in Hong Kong in December.
