Ministry cites governance deficiencies
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has suspended its recognition of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), citing governance deficiencies. This decision, announced on August 12, 2026, follows the federation’s failure to conduct organisational elections within the stipulated timeframe and an unsatisfactory response to a show-cause notice.
As a result of this suspension, the Ministry has instructed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish an ad-hoc committee. This committee will be responsible for administering table tennis in India until a compliant governance structure is restored within the TTFI. The order also mandates consultation with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the global governing body for table tennis, to create an interim regulatory mechanism.
The recognition of national sports federations in India is granted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the administration of a sport at the national level. This recognition is contingent upon compliance with various regulations, including those concerning elections, the tenure of office-bearers, athlete selection processes, and adherence to the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011.
Previous administrative actions and internal turmoil
The TTFI has faced administrative scrutiny previously. In 2022, the federation experienced a court-related suspension. The recent 2026 order places the sport under interim administration once again, pending the restoration of a valid and compliant federation structure.
Internal turmoil has been reported within the TTFI for several months. In January, the federation suspended its Secretary General, former player Kamlesh Mehta, over allegations of financial irregularities. This suspension was later quashed by the Delhi High Court after Mehta took the matter to court. The TTFI denied that the suspension was due to an internal power struggle, stating it was to ensure transparency and collective decision-making.
Further headlines were made when paddler Manika Batra was excluded from the Asian Games squad, with the federation citing a lack of domestic game time. Batra publicly criticised this decision and sought intervention from the Sports Ministry, alleging that the selection process was ambiguous and unfair. The Ministry took cognisance of these issues, issuing a show-cause notice to the TTFI, to which the response was deemed unconvincing.
The Ministry highlighted that the TTFI failed in its duty to ensure athlete welfare, citing a delay in holding the National Championships last year as an example. The federation is due to hold its elections this year, but there has been no information regarding when this process will commence. The Ministry stated that the principles of accountability and democratic functioning expected of a National Sports Federation have not been followed, and that the TTFI has “repeatedly disregarded directions and guidelines” issued by it.
In February 2022, the Delhi High Court had suspended the TTFI following a petition from Batra questioning the selection policy that led to her omission from the Asian Championships that year. At that time, the court ordered the appointment of an administrator, expressing its dismay at the “sorry state of affairs” within the TTFI. The federation’s recognition was restored in December of that year following fresh elections. The current President of the TTFI is Meghna Ahlawat, who took charge in December 2022.
Source: gktoday.in
