Now Reading: TTFI suspension leaves Indian table tennis in crisis ahead of Asian Games
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TTFI suspension leaves Indian table tennis in crisis ahead of Asian Games
TTFI suspension leaves Indian table tennis in crisis ahead of Asian Games
The Sports Ministry's suspension of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has thrown the reappointment of foreign coach Massimo Costantini and the Asian Games preparation into disarray. Costantini, who was with…
The Story in Brief
The Sports Ministry's suspension of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has thrown the reappointment of foreign coach Massimo Costantini and the Asian Games preparation into disarray. Costantini, who was with Indian players in Sweden for the Europe Smash, has been asked to return to Italy. The ad-hoc committee, to be formed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), will now handle the federation's affairs.
The ministry cited governance lapses, delayed elections, and selection issues. The controversy deepened after Manika Batra questioned her exclusion from the Asian Games squad. Vasanth Bharadwaj, who helped devise TTFI's selection criteria, told Sportstar that the elected dispensation diluted the criteria for seniors, reversing recommended weightages for domestic and international performances.
The Indian Opinion
The usual cycle of suspension and ad-hoc committees is no substitute for reform. The real issue is not just who governs TTFI but whether the system places athletes first. Manika Batra's exclusion and the abrupt halt to Costantini's tenure show how squabbles in the boardroom hit players on the ground. The test now is whether the new committee can quickly restore trust and get the squad focused on Hangzhou without a foreign coach.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, sportstar.thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
