New Delhi, Sep 23 (Table Tennis News) The Delhi High Court Thursday stayed the Table Tennis Federation of India's mandate on compulsory attendance at the National Coaching Camp in order to be selected for any upcoming international event and asked the Centre to conduct an inquiry into Manika Batra's complaint against the sports body.

Justice Rekha Palli further said that if warranted, the Union Sports Ministry may look into the affairs of the TTFI as well.

Justice Palli was hearing a plea by Batra who was left out of the Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Table Tennis Championships and has alleged that the national coach Soumyadeep Roy “pressurized” her to “throw away” an Olympic qualifier match in favour of one of his personal trainees.

The judge said the rule mandating compulsory attendance at the national camp has been enforced “at a point when there was a complaint pending against the national coach” and the same “does not inspire confidence”.

The court also expressed “anguish” at the manner in which a committee, constituted by the federation to look into the allegations, was reconstituted after it sought centre's stand on the issue.

“They are overreaching the court. I will issue a notice of contempt. I pass an order and you appoint a new person. This is shocking... I am expressing my anguish,” the judge stated.

“I am of the view that the operation of the rule is required to the stayed till the next date of hearing. Respondent no. 2 (Sports Ministry)...is itself inclined to hold an inquiry into the serious allegations by the petitioner. There is no reason why respondent no 1 (federation) should continue with its rule,” she ordered.

“Respondent no 2 will proceed to hold an inquiry at the earliest...furnish a copy of the report to the court,” it was added.

The court clarified that at this stage, it was not appointing any committee to look into the issues and directed that the Centre's inquiry report be placed before it in four weeks.

It added that the centre may seek the stand of the national coach and also issued notice on the petition, which was listed for further hearing on October 28.

Senior counsel Sachin Dutta, appearing for Batra, said his client was not desirous of participating in the upcoming Asian Table Tennis Championships.

“Some (tournaments) are starting from October 24 and world championship is in November. The event (Asian Table Tennis Championship) is next week and training happens in Pune,” he said.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Centre, stated that the federation's rule on compulsorily attending the national camp was in the teeth of the sports code and defeated merit.

He informed that the centre would initiate an inquiry into the athlete's allegation.

Advocate Hrishikesh Baruah, representing TTFI, defended the rule and stated that such a mandate was present on other sports as well including weight lifting and judo.

The lawyer clarified that his client had no say on grant of access to a venue to Batra's personal coach and physiotherapist at any sporting event.

He argued that the federation has no problem with holding a fair inquiry into Batra's allegations and that claimed that the national coach was not even present at the national camp which she refused to attend.

Maybe I will agree with you (at a later stage). Today, holistically, I am not with you,” the court stated.

In the petition, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Khel Ratna awardee has alleged that the federation was carrying out its selection processes in a non-transparent manner, targeting certain individuals such as herself.

She has asserted that the national coach, in a clear conflict of interest, was running a private table tennis academy simultaneously and on one occasion, “pressurized the petitioner to throw away a match only with a view to help one of his trainees at his private academy to qualify for the Olympics, 2020”.

“This incident happened on 17.03.2021 in respect of the match to be held on 18.03.2021 at the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament, 2021 organized by ATTU. Not only did the Petitioner refused to comply with such an unethical, illegal and immoral request, but she also immediately communicated this to the Adviser, TTFI, on 18.03.2021,” the plea reads.

"After conclusion of Olympics, the Respondent No.1 (federation) issued Rules and Regulations dated 04.08.2021 (received by the Petitioner on 27.08.2021) informing her that attending of National Coaching Camp is compulsory, failing which she would not be selected for any upcoming international event," it further reads.

The plea states that Table Tennis is an individual sport, which requires specialised training with support staff and thus the rule against personal coaching is arbitrary, irrational, absurd and have no nexus with achieving excellence in an individualised sport. 

Also Read : HC seeks Centre's stand on plea by Manika Batra against TT Federation of India

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Sep 19 (Table Tennis news) The Indian pairs of Siddhesh Pande-Mudit Dani and Fidel R Snehit-Sudhanshu Grover had to be content with bronze medals after losing their respective men's doubles semifinals at the ITTF Kazakhstan International Open in Karaganda.

Both the pairs put up a great show throughout the tournament before suffering defeats in contrasting fashion in their respective semi-finals.

While Maharashtra duo of Mudit and Siddhesh suffered a 0-3 loss against the Saudi Arabian pair of Ali Alkhadrawi and Abdulaziz Bu Shulaybi, Snehit and Sudhanshu went down fighting 2-3 against Kazakh pair of Alan Kurmangaliyev and Kirill Gerassimenko.

Snehit also entered the singles final after defeating Pavel Platonov of Belarus 4-1.

The world number 405 Indian will take on 46th ranked Kirill Gerassimenko of Kazakhstan in the gold medal match.

Indian women's doubles pair of Kaushani Nath and Prapti Sen also stormed into the final, outclassing Uzbek duo of Kamila Khalikova and Mekhriniso Norkulova 3-1.

They will now face Valeria Kotcyur and Valeria Shcherbatykh of Russia in the title clash.

Also read : Indian TT players make merry at WTT Youth Contender Meet in Tunisia

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Sep 20 (Table Tennis news) The Delhi High Court Monday sought the Centre's stand on a petition by Manika Batra, who was left out of the Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Table Tennis Championships, assailing Table Tennis Federation of India's (TTFI) mandate of compulsory attendance at the National Coaching Camp in order to be selected.

Justice Rekha Palli granted two days to the central government counsel to take instructions on the petition which alleges that on one occasion, the national coach Soumyadeep Roy “pressurized” Batra to “throw away a match” to enable one of his personal trainees to qualify for the Olympics 2020 and seeks that the Sports Ministry “enquire into the management” of the federation.

The judge said the allegations against the coach were serious and the Centre should be a little proactive.

“There is something to be said. We have a high ranking player. We have to balance... If there are such senior allegations against the coach, Union of India has to be a little bit proactive on this,” said the judge.

“Let them (Centre) come back with instructions. Ultimately she is the highest-ranking player in the country today,” the judge added.

Senior counsel Sachin Dutta, appearing for Batra, said that by virtue of a rule on mandatorily attending the national camp, his client's chance for the 25th ITTF Asian Table Tennis Championships, 2021, which is to be held in Doha from September-October, has been scuttled in spite of her fulfilling all merit-based criteria.

He urged the court to stay the rule to enable her to participate in another international event scheduled for November.

“There is an event in November. This regulation be stayed immediately. It will kill my career,” Dutta said as he highlighted that personal coaching is encouraged in several other sports.

The counsel for the federation denied all allegations and said that the national coach was not even present at the national camp.

In the petition, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Khel Ratna awardee has alleged that the federation was carrying out its selection processes in a non-transparent manner, targeting certain individuals such as herself and acting completely contrary to the interest of sports and sportspersons.

She has asserted that the national coach, in a clear conflict of interest, was running a private table tennis academy simultaneously and on one occasion, “pressurized the Petitioner to throw away a match only with a view to help one of his trainees at his private academy to qualify for the Olympics, 2020”.

“This incident happened on 17.03.2021 in respect of the match to be held on 18.03.2021 at the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament, 2021 organized by ATTU. Not only did the Petitioner refuse to comply with such an unethical, illegal and immoral request, but she also immediately communicated this to the Adviser, TTFI, on 18.03.2021,” the plea alleges.

"After conclusion of Olympics, the Respondent No.1 (federation) issued Rules and Regulations dated 04.08.2021 (received by the Petitioner on 27.08.2021) informing her that attending of National Coaching Camp is compulsory, failing which she would not be selected for any upcoming international event," it says.

The plea states that Table Tennis is an individual sport, which requires specialised training with support staff and thus the rule against personal coaching is arbitrary, irrational, absurd and have no nexus with achieving excellence in an individualised sport.

“Only the personal coach would know the strengths, weakness, skills and areas which a player should focus and strengthen. However, these Rules do not permit any personal coach/support staff,” the plea adds.

The matter would be heard next on September 23.

Also read: Manika Batra left out of India squad for Asian TT Championships

News source: PTI 

New Delhi, Sept 20 (Table Tennis News) India's Payas Jain claimed his second successive under-17 boys title after defeating Tom Closset of Belgium 3-1 in the WTT Youth Contender final in Tunis.

Picking up the threads from where he left off in Otocec, Payas outwitted Tom 7-11, 11-4, 11-4, 15-13 in the summit clash on Sunday.

The Delhi lad, who won gold in the same category in Slovenia last week, had a bad start to the final but came back strongly to go up 2-1.

However, in the fourth game, his opponent squandered a couple of game points to let the Indian finish in style.

In his semi-final, Payas defeated Preyesh Raj Suresh 16-14, 11-8, 11-8.

Despite his upper hand in the first game, the Tamil Nadu boy could not breach Payas' confidence and finally settled with the bronze.

Ankur Bhattacharjee, who played an enduring semi-final against Tom Closset, settled for the bronze.

In under-19 boys, Payas, however, failed to cross the semi-final hurdle yet again on Sunday.

The Indian signed off with a bronze after going down to Louis Laffineur 1-3 (11-9, 10-12, 4-11, 9-11).

Payas began well and after a bit of struggle in the second, deuced. The Belgian bounced back well and completed the task soon after taking the second game.

In the other semifinal, Maharashtra lad Deepit Patel went down 3-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Adrien Rassanfosse, also a Belgian. Adrien became the eventual winner when he defeated his compatriot Tom in the final.

Left-handed Preyesh made up for his loss to take the Under-15 Boys title.

He downed Ankur Bhattacharjee in the final 3-1 (11-8, 15-13, 11-13, 11-9). The West Bengal paddler ascended the podium for the second time, this time winning a silver medal.

Another Indian, P B Abhinand of Tamil Nadu, settled with a bronze after losing his semi-final 9-11, 12-10, 7-11, 1-11 to Ankur, earlier in the day.

In the under-11 boys, it was an Indian show again as Vishruth Ramakrishnan claimed the gold medal after accounting for local boy Amir Essid. The Tamil Nadu boy won 11-4, 11-3, 11-7.

Also Read : Golden sweep for Indian girls in Tunis

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Sep 16 (Table Tennis news) India's Swastika Ghosh defeated compatriot Yashaswini Ghorphade 3-2 in what tuned out to be a gripping Under-19 girls final of the WTT (World Table Tennis) Contender event in Tunis, Tunisia.

However, a little while before, the silver medallist Yashaswini won gold in the Under-17 girls final, beating Egyptian Farida Badawy 11-6 14-12 11-7.

In the Under-19 final, Swastika defeated Yashaswini 6-11 11-6 6-11 11-6 11-8.

These were not the only successes in Tunis as the Indian paddlers collected all the gold on offer, besides some silver and bronze medals.

Suhana Saini accounted for Pritha Vartikar in the Under-15 girls final for her second international gold. She had earlier won the title during her Slovenia sojourn.

M Hansini was another Indian who excelled, winning gold in Under-13 girls event, beating Prisha Goel 11-5 11-8 11-8.

In Under-11 girls category, Dhaani Jain emerged champion when she downed Ananya Muralidharan 11-4 11-6 9-11 10-12 11-7 in a tough final.

Playing her second final soon after a brief break from her gold-winning Under-17 event, the Bengaluru girl took on Mumbai's Swastika in the Under-17 section.

Nicely warmed up, Yashaswini won the first game before Swastika recovered to take the second. But the fight continued unabated, as the two shared the next two games and, in the decider, Swastika proved a notch better than Yashaswini.

Earlier, she beat Nithyashree Mani 9-11 11-4 11-8 11-5, while Swastika downed Lakshita Narang 11-4 10-12 11-8 11-7 in their semi-finals. Both the Chennai and Delhi girls had to settle for bronze medals.

In Under-17, it was a different story for Yashaswini. Her Egyptian opponent Badawy proved no match in the final. But the Bengaluru girl dropped a game first and struggled in the third to subdue Lakshita in the semi-final, winning it 8-11 11-4 11-8, 13-11. The Delhi girl again had to settle with the bronze.

Haryana's Suhana showed her resolve en route her golden medal in the U-15 category against Maharashtra's Pritha. In the tense final, Suhana surged ahead with a sizeable lead to seal the contest.

Sayali Wani lost her semi-final outing to Suhana 7-11 10-12 11-13.

It was creditable from the West Bengal girl, who could stretch the experienced Suhana in the last two games. But Pritha dropped a game in the semi-final against Belgian Lilou Massart but picked up the momentum to finish with an 11-9 11-4 9-11, 11-2 victory.

In the U-13 final, Chennai's Hansini beat Delhi's Prisha Goel in straight games. In the semi-final, Hansini beat Ananya, also a straight-game affair, while Prisha beat Uzbekistan's Asel Erkebaeva 11-6 12-10 11-4. Ananya returned with the bronze.

However, the Tamil Nadu girl's better showing fetched her a silver in the U-13 category.

Also Read : Manika Batra left out of India squad for Asian TT Championships

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Sep 15 (Table Tennis News) Star paddler Manika Batra was on Wednesday left out of the India squad for the Asian Championships beginning September 28 in Doha after she did not attend the mandatory national camp in Sonepat.

In the absence of the world number 56th player, 97th-ranked Sutirtha Mukherjee will lead the women's team. The other members are Ayhika Mukherjee (ranked 131) and Archana Kamath (132).

Veteran Sharath Kamal (ranked 33) will spearhead the men's challenge in the company of G Sathiyan (38), Harmeet Desai (72), Manav Thakkar (134) and Sanil Shetty (247).

Powerhouse China is not taking part in the event, raising medal hopes in the men's team event. Singles and doubles competitions will also be conducted.

The Table Tennis Federation of India had made it clear that any player not attending the camp will not be considered for selection. The team was picked on Wednesday and was subsequently published on TTFI website.

The federation had made attendance in camps compulsory following the Tokyo Olympics.

Manika had informed the federation that she would like to continue training with her personal coach in Pune.

The Khel Ratna awardee has also made match fixing allegations against national coach Soumydeep Roy for asking her to throw a match during the Olympic qualifiers. TTFI has formed an inquiry panel to probe the allegations.

Sathiyan, Desai and Sutirtha joined the national camp late due to different reasons. Sathiyan was playing in Poland, Harmeet was in Germany while Sutirtha had fever.

Men's team: Manav Thakkar, Sharath Kamal, G Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Sanil Shetty.

Men's doubles: Sharath Kamal and G Sathiyan; Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai.

Women's team: Sutirtha Mukherjee, Sreeja Akula, Ayhika Mukherjee, Archana Kamath.

Women's doubles: Archana Kamath and Sreeja Akula; Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee.

Mixed doubles: Manav Thakkar and Archana Kamath; Harmeet Desai and Sreeja Akula.

Also Read : TTFI calls executive committee meeting to discuss Manika's fixing allegations against national coach

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Sep 9 (Table Tennis news): The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has called its executive committee meeting on Saturday to discuss star player Manika Batra's allegations of match-fixing against national coach Soumyadeep Roy. After Manika's allegation, in response to the TTFI's showcause notice, that the national coach had asked her to throw a match during the Olympic qualifiers in March, the federation had asked Roy for a written response which he has submitted.

"Both Manika and Roy will be heard in the meeting and inquiry panel will be formed," TTFI secretary Arun Banerjee told PTI on Thursday.

National camp in Sonepat ================ On the ongoing national camp in Sonepat, Banerjee said most of the players have reported barring Manika. G Sathiyan, who had wanted to train in Poland instead, is also expected to reach in a day or two.

The federation recently made camp attendance compulsory for players to be eligible for big events, including the Asian Championships in Doha later this month.

Sutirtha Mukherjee, who did not report to Sonepat at the start of the camp, has also reached after recovering from fever, said Banerjee.

"The rules are pretty clear. You have to attend the camp to be eligible for selection," he said. No full-time coach since 2018 Asian Games =========================== The federation, which has not managed to rope in a foreign coach in more than three years due to COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons, is looking to hire one at the earliest.

Former Spanish player Alfredo Carneros has emerged as one of the candidates. India veteran Sharath Kamal had defeated him in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"We lost a lot of time due to COVID. We are on the lookout and are talking to a few coaches. A decision will be made soon," added Banerjee.

Also read: Manika rubbishes TTFI's claim that she did not report Roy's alleged fixing offer in March

News source: PTI

New Delhi, Sep 6 (Paralympics news) When the COVID-19 pandemic derailed her preparations for the Paralympics, Table Tennis player Bhavinaben Patel found a perfect practice partner in a robot provided by the Sports Authority of India, an assistance which she feels, made all the difference in her historic silver-winning show in Tokyo.

Patel became the first Indian table tennis player to win a Paralympic medal by clinching the silver, going down to Zhang Miao of China in the summit clash.

And she credited her success to the TT Robot (Butterfly - Amicus Prime), which cost Rs 2,73,500, and an Ottobock Wheelchair, costing Rs 2,84,707, for her success.

"I got a robot through SAI TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) which is an advanced robot. It has many advanced features like you can get strokes from different angles.

"So, I got good variations from it in my game. It improved my game a lot. Besides the TOPS gave us other equipment like racquets," Patel, who was afflicted with polio as a toddler, told PTI in an interview after returning from Tokyo.

Made in Hungary, Amicus Prime claims to be the best ping pong robot available with 21 pre-saved drills and ball frequency of up to 120 per minute.

"During the pandemic time (lockdown), my husband arranged a table for me at home only. That time my coach got me a second hand robot with which I used to practice but after that I got the SAI robot in February-March 2020," she said.

She also spoke in detail about the huge difference the robot made in enhancing her game.

"My strokes got stronger after playing with the robot. I used to play 5000 balls in a day with the robot. The ball control and placements increased a lot, spin control, cut control also enhanced. All these differences came because of that robot," she elaborated.

Patel also credited her family, especially her husband Nikunj Patel, a former junior level cricketer for Gujarat with whom she had a love marriage in 2017.

"...he backed me to the tilt, pushed me saying 'you can do this and you have to do his because after seeing you many athletes will come forward, you have to become their inspiration'.

"Even now he tells me that you have long way to go. Nikunj has always supported me. Once I had thoughts after marriage that I can't continue the game but he stood behind me like a rock." The couple married after falling in love following a chance encounter through common friends.

"It was a love marriage, We met through common friends and then we started talking over phone. After that we told our families and just took the plunge," added Patel.

She said it was a visit to the Blind People Association in Ahmedabad that changed her perception towards life and brought her into sports.

"I was born on 6th November 1986 and after one year I was struck by polio. But I was considered the luckiest person in my home because many household problems were solved after my birth.

Also read: India's para-athletes soar high in best ever Paralympics performance

"I have a big brother and an younger sister. In 2004-05 I started to visit the Blind People Association in Ahmedabad and there I saw many of my friends playing table tennis. After watching them I thought I should start the sport as a hobby," Patel said.

"I thought this is something where I can move forward. I used to feel happy when I played table tennis. From there on table tennis became my life." Patel now wants to better her Paralympic performance in the upcoming world events.

"I want to give my 100 per cent in the next Commonwealth Games, Para Asian Games and Para World Championships and win gold. Going forward, I want to convert my silver into gold in Paris," she signed off. 

News source: PTI

New Delhi, Sep 6 (Table tennis news) Star player Manika Batra on Sunday dismissed TTFI's "false" claim that she did not report the matter to the national federation when national coach Soumyadeep Roy allegedly asked her to throw a match during the Olympic qualifier in March.

Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) secretary Arun Banerjee has questioned the timing of Manika's allegations against Roy.

However, the leading India player, in her response to federation's showcause notice over not taking Roy's help during the recently held Tokyo Olympics, stated that the national coach asked her to fix a match in Doha and she had "promptly" reported the matter to TTFI which did not take any action. It was also the reason she could not take Roy's help in Tokyo.

She reiterated the same to PTI on Sunday: "I just wish to say it's clearly stated in my written reply to the notice and letter to TTFI that I had reported about the matter to them long back (in March) .

"I don't know why the false claim is made now of me not reporting it for five months. My reply to the notice clearly claims of my prompt reporting of it." TTFI has asked Roy to present his side of the story in a written reply.

"From my side, I did not promise to oblige him and promptly reported this matter to a TTFI official. I decided not to obey the unethical command of the national coach.

Also read: Manika alleges national coach Roy asked her to fix match in Olympic qualifiers

"I have been falsely charged with ''bringing disrepute to the country by the sight of an empty chair of the coach''.

"But the truth is that the ''empty chair'' was the result of the national coach's pressure tactics for match fixing and TTFI's inaction to act on my prompt reporting of that incident and not the result of my so called indiscipline," Manika had stated in her response to the notice.

She is also unlikely to attend the national camp underway in Sonepat ahead of the Asian Championships later this month. TTFI has made it clear that any player missing the camp will not be considered for national selection.

Star male player G Sathiyan has decided to cut short his training and competition stint in Poland and is set to join the camp on September 10 or 11. 

News source: PTI

New Delhi, Sep 3 (Table Tennis news): Table tennis star Manika Batra has alleged that national coach Soumyadeep Roy asked her to throw a match during the Olympic qualifiers in March and that was the main reason she refused his help in the singles competition of the Tokyo Games.

Responding to Table Tennis Federation of India's show cause notice, Manika strongly denied that she brought disrepute to the game by refusing Roy's help.

According to TTFI sources, the world number 56 stated she would not have been able to focus on her match if someone who asked to her indulge in match-fixing months earlier was sitting by her side.

"Besides the need to avoid disturbance due to his last minute intervention, there was an additional and much more serious reason behind my preference to play without the national coach," the Khel Ratna awardee alleged in her response to TTFI secretary Arun Banerjee.

"The national coach had pressurised me during the qualification tournament in Doha in March 2021 to concede my match to his student to enable her to qualify for Olympics - in short- to indulge in match-fixing," she said.

Despite repeated attempts, Roy was not available for a response to the allegations. The player-turned coach has also not been asked to join the ongoing national camp and has been told by TTFI to present his side of the story.

"The allegations are against Roy. Let him respond and then we will decide future course of action," said Banerjee when asked about Manika's response to the showcause notice.

Roy is a former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist in the team event and also an Arjuna awardee.

Both Manika and Sutirtha Mukherjee, who train in Roy's academy, ended up qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.

"I have evidence of this incident and I am ready to present it to the competent authorities at the appropriate time. For asking me to concede the match, the national coach personally et me in my hotel room and talked to me for nearly 20 minutes," said Manika.

"He tried to promote his own student using unethical means under the pretext of national interest. He was accompanied by his student who trains in the private academy not only run by, but also named after him.

"From my side, I did not promise to oblige him and promptly reported this matter to a TTFI official. I decided not to obey the unethical command of the national coach. But his intimidation and pressure had its effect on my mental frame and consequently my performance.

"During the Olympics, I wanted to keep away from the demoralising effect of such a coach. Because, as a player representing India, it was my duty to serve my country in the best possible way." Manika made history by reaching the third round while Sutirtha also did well to reach the second round.

TTFI had called Manika's refusal to take Roy's advice as an act of indiscipline and showcaused her.

"I strongly deny the charge therein that I brought disrepute to TTFI, Government of India and the country and undermined the appointment of the national coach by playing my singles matches in the Tokyo Olympics without the presence of the national coach in the field of play.

"In fact and on the contrary, I have served my country and TTFI in the best possible way by playing my matches alone," she wrote.

Manika also questioned TTFI for not taking action against Roy.

"I have been falsely charged with 'bringing disrepute to the country by the sight of an empty chair of the coach'. But the truth is that the 'empty chair' was the result of the national coach's pressure tactics for match fixing and TTFI's inaction to act on my prompt reporting of that incident and not the result of my so called 'indiscipline'.

"Unfortunately, when I raised the issue of the match fixing pressure tactics by the national coach again in my e-mail dated 14'th August 2021, TTFI refuted this issue outright without even a preliminary, impartial and transparent inquiry.

"Finally, to reiterate and summarise, I have done nothing wrong in playing my matches alone," she asserted.

Also read: Having personal coach at events not about ego, it's basic requirement of individual sport: Manika

News source: PTI

New Delhi, Sep 2 (Table tennis news) Star table tennis player Manika Batra believes having a personal coach is a basic requirement for an athlete playing individual sport and if she had court-side access to hers in Tokyo Olympics, she would have done better.

Speaking to PTI, Manika said the authorities, including the Table Tennis Federation of India, should not mind personal coaches travelling with the players even in multi-sport events like the Olympics.

"Chief coach is fine for team events but we also have singles event where certainly one needs his/her coach as that person knows more about the training and game of his player," said the world number 56.

She said the India chief coach can focus on the team competitions, while personal coaches steer individual campaigns.

Her comments come after she was show-caused by TTFI for refusing national coach Somyadeep Roy's help during her singles matches in Tokyo after her personal coach Sanmay Paranjape was denied field of play access due to a limit on accredited personnel by the Games organisers.

She also cited the example of individual sports like badminton and tennis where it is common practice for players to take their personal coaches in all tournaments.

In her response to the show cause notice, Manika has raised questions on Roy who has not been called for the ongoing national camp as a result. The 26-year-old said she expects fair justice.

Manika and G Sathiyan recently won the mixed doubles title at the WTT Contender in Hungary. Her coach did not travel there.

"Only for the team event part of a tournament, we can of course have a chief coach, but this is not hockey or football. We can give our best if we get to work hard and give our best in training with our training teams as it's an individual sport not a team sport.

"This is not about ego, it is all about the requirements of a player. Even my seniors went to Sweden and Germany and still go abroad to their individual clubs and train in their hometowns in India, which is how it should be.

"Even in Hungary, coaches of Sreeja Akula and Sathiyan were there and it's a basic requirement like training. In the team event, it's okay to have the chief coach but singles surely, we need our coaches and it has always been at no cost to TTFI," said the Commonwealth Game gold medallist.

Manika admitted that controversy over her coach being denied field of play access impacted her performance in Tokyo. She nonetheless became the first female player from India to reach the round of 32.

"If the atmosphere and support would have been better, I'm sure I would have played my third round better. I gave my best.

Also read: Manika and Sathiyan make winning return in Table tennis, win mixed doubles title in Budapest

"On the issue (not taking national coach's help) I have written to the TTFI after its notice and raised issues which are important and I also wish some fair justice," said the Khel Ratna awardee, India's highest sporting honour.

On her overall Tokyo campaign, she said: "I would have definitely liked to cross the third round too and in the first two matches, I really played well.

"The mixed doubles draw (with Sharath Kamal) was tough but it will motivate me to push further." Manika has done a lot for raising the profile of table tennis.

Asked what more needs to be done, she added: "...right now I am playing my best and doing my job as an athlete for the years to come, that is my aim and duty." 

News source: PTI

Tokyo, Aug 31 (Paralympics news) The Indian women's table tennis team including Bhavina Patel was outclassed 0-2 by China in the Class 4-5 quarterfinal at the Paralympic Games here on Tuesday.

Bhavina, who had won a historic silver in the singles event on Sunday, lost 0-3 (4-11 7-11 6-11) to Ying Zhou for the third time in the competition. The Chinese had also beaten her in the singles final.

In the doubles content, Sonal Patel and Bhavina were no match for the Chinese duo comprising Ying and Zhang Bian, losing in straight games. The Indian pairing was defeated 2-11 4-11 2-11 in the showdown that lasted just 13 minutes.

Also read: Rakesh Kumar makes quarterfinal exit, Indian challenge ends in compound section

In the class 4 category competitors have fair sitting balance and fully functional arms and hands. Their impairment may be due to a lower spinal-cord lesion or cerebral palsy.

While the class 5 category includes athletes who compete in a wheelchair but who have a normal sitting balance, arm and hand function. The athletes have the most physical functionality of those in a wheelchair. 

News source: PTI

(Table tennis news) Tokyo Paralympics 2021 Live Update: Bhavina Patel’s impressive run at the women’s singles Class 4 at the Tokyo Paralympics came to a bittersweet end after the 34 year old paddler lost in straight games to Zhou Ying from China to finish in second place with a silver medal.

Zhou Ying was determined not to give Bhavina Patel any breathing space as the Chinese paddler won the first game 11-7 in just six minutes and continued her momentum with lightning fast pace as she won the second set 11-5 in five minutes. Before Bhavina Patel knew what hit her, the game had already slipped out of her hands.

Bhavina Patel tried to make a comeback in the third game, clinging to the last desperate hope to salvage her ambitions for a Paralympic gold but to no avail. Zhou Ying won the third game 11-6 to finish the clash in just 19 minutes with a score of 11-7, 11-5, 11-6. However, the Indian paddler can be proud of her accomplishments in Tokyo as she became only the second Indian woman and the first table tennis player to win a Paralympics medal.

Also read: Bhavina Patel defeats China’s Zhang Miao 3-2 in the semifinals of the Tokyo Paralympics, will play for gold in the final
 

New Delhi, Aug 28 (Table Tennis): A robot with advanced features was at hand whenever long-time coach "Lallan ji" (Lalan Doshi) was not.

But a Paralympics medal (could be gold) would have probably remained a far cry had it not been for Bhavinaben Patel's initial interest giving way to passion, and passion giving way to obsession with table tennis.

Diagnosed with polio when she was 12 months old, the 34-year-old is now scripting history at will, having become the first Indian to enter the final of a table tennis event in the showpiece.

"I first played the sport for fun but a bronze medal at a national level club event in Delhi led me into thinking that I can do well in top national and international tournaments.

"I became passionate about it and soon I found myself obsessed with the sport," Patel told PTI from Tokyo, where she is taking some giant strides.

"The obsession with table tennis reached a point where eating, food and sleep took a backseat in my life," she added.

On Saturday, she was rewarded with a sensational result that has surprised even the Indian camp in this Paralympics as she stunned her world number three Chinese opponent 7-11 11-7 11-4 9-11 11-8 in the semifinal showdown that lasted 34 minutes.

She considers a move to Ahmedabad to learn computer science as her life's turning point as her mannerisms, her way of speaking and her purpose in life -- everything changed for the good.

"Before that, I never knew that a game like TT existed since I was living in a small village. But things changed so much after coming to Ahmedabad. The manner in which I am speaking now is because of my staying in Ahmedabad. The dialect was different in my village." Patel started playing the sport 15 years ago at the Blind People's Association at Vastrapur area of Ahmedabad where she was a student of ITI (Indian Training Institute) for people with disabilities.

There, she saw visually impaired children playing table tennis and decided to take up the sport.

She won her first medal in a competition while representing the Rotary Club in Ahmedabad where she is settled now after her marriage to Nikul Patel, who has played junior cricket for Gujarat.

Also read: I don't consider myself as disabled: Bhavinaben Patel

Speaking about the robot which she owns thanks to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), she said, "I got the robot from TOPS in 2020. It helped me improve my game.. It's a very advanced robot with advanced features. It throws the ball at you like a simulation... otherwise Lallan sir was there most of the time to train me." The machine costs Rs 4 lakh.

On her initiation into the sport, she added, "The bronze medal at national level inspired me to take it seriously. I told myself if I could win a bronze without much preparation, I can achieve more with proper training.

"From thereon I was playing TT all day. The superintendent in our institute (ITI) got me involved in it and we were coached by Lallan ji." "I came to Ahmedabad in 2004-05 to do a course in computer science... The first turning point of my career was in 2011 when I won a silver medal in an international tournament in Bangkok. But I got serious about TT in 2008," added the Sachin Tendulkar fan." She also thanked her husband and others in the family for supporting her in the quest to realise her dream of winning a medal at the top competition.

Daughter of Hasmukhbhai Patel, a small-time shopkeeper at Sundhiya village in Gujarat's Mehsana district, she was not considered a bright medal prospect coming into the Games.

She will take on world number one Chinese paddler Ying Zhou in the summit clash on Sunday and if her form is any indication, the Indian can certainly claim the top prize.

In the quarterfinal on Friday, Patel defeated 2016 Rio Paralympics gold winner and world number two Borislava Peric Rankovic of Serbia.

Athletes in Class 4 category have fair sitting balance and fully functional arms and hands. Their impairment may be due to a lower spinal-cord lesion or cerebral palsy.

News source:PTI 

(Table tennis news) Tokyo Paralympics 2021 Live Update: Indian table tennis player Bhavina Patel defeated China’s Zhang Miao 3-2 of the women’s class 4 semifinals to book her berth into the finals at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Her persistence and self belief meant that the 34 year old finally overcame her opponent after previously losing to Zhang Miao 11 times.

Both the paddlers started off strongly, but the World Number 3 Zhang Miao gained the upper hand when the scores were level 3-3 and won the game 11-7. Bhavina then made a stunning comeback in game 2, winning by 11-7 to get back into the game.

She captured five consecutive points in the third game to get a 5-0 lead and eventually win the game 11-4. Game 4 was intense to say the least, with Bhavina Patel going toe to toe with her Chinese counterpart which involved long rallies, one that lasted for 19 shots and gave the Indian paddler a slender 7-6 lead. However, Zhang Miao refused to give up and forced the game into a decider.

In the final game, Bhavina was at her blitzkrieg best and had a 5-0 lead but Miao soon reduced the deficit by gaining three points for the score to read 3-6. Zhang Miao showed just why she is regarded as the World Number 3 by getting three consecutive points and gaining a 1 point lead over Bhavina Patel. However, the Indian did not give up and won two points in a row after a momentary time out to reach the finals.

Also read: Bhavina Patel defeats reigning Paralympics champion Borislava Peric 3-0 to progress to the semifinals in Tokyo