Manika Batra Case: HC Suspends Table Tennis Federation, Finds National Coach Roy Guilty

New Delhi: Manika Batra has won her battle with the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).

Delhi High Court on Friday suspended the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), and directed the appointment of an Administrator to run table tennis in the country. National coach Soumyadeep Roy was also found guilty of match-fixing.

Justice Rekha Palli issued the order after a three-member enquiry committee – set up by the court last November to look into TTFI’s handling of match-fixing allegations made by Manika — submitted its report.

Manika had moved the court alleging that national coach Roy had ‘pressurised’ her to ‘throw away’ an Olympic qualifier match in favour of one of his personal trainees.

Manika, India’s No. 1 player, was left out of the Indian squad for the Asian Table Tennis Championships.

“The report reveals a sorry state of affairs. The court is appalled to note some of the observations made by the committee with regard to the manner in which respondent no 1 (TTFI) and respondent no 3 (national coach) were functioning… The petitioner (Manika) has pointed out that the TTFI was dictating terms to the players, who have struggled to reach this position and brought laurels to the country,” Justice Palli said.

Having deferred the decision to appoint an Administrator in previous hearings, she said on Friday: “But after pursuing the Committee’s report, if an Administrator is not appointed, the Court shall be failing in its duties. After all, the people of this country take pride in the achievements of their sportspersons. Thereafter, it is in the fitness of things that necessary action was taken since conduct of the TTFI is prima facie blameworthy as per the report received by this Court.”

“There is a rot in the system and the TTFI was only safeguarding the interest of its officials,” Justice Palli added.

The court also ordered upcoming domestic tournaments, including the National championship at Shillong, to be conducted under the supervision of the court-appointed Administrator, with the TTFI raising the necessary funds to meet the expenditure.