New Delhi: She reached the third round of the women’s singles in table tennis at the Tokyo Olympics. It is the best ever show ever achieved by an Indian woman at the Olympics. However, Manika Batra now faces punishment for her ‘brazen act of indiscipline’. Manika Batra’s decision to not take the help of national coach Soumyadeep Roy during her matches at the Tokyo Olympics has not gone down well with the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). She will certainly face action when it’s the TTFI executive board meets early next month.
Roy is a 2006 Commonwealth Games team event gold medallist and an Arjuna awardee. He was the only coach who travelled with the four-member team to Tokyo.
Manika had taken her personal coach Sanmay Paranajpe to the Games. However, he was only allowed to train with her and the player’’ request for his ‘Field of Play’ access was denied by the organisers.
“It is surely an act of indiscipline. She should have let the national coach sit court-side during her matches just like the other players did. Roy has been one of India’s best players and is a reputed coach now,” TTFI secretary general Arun Kumar Banerjee said Tuesday from Tokyo. “The executive board will meet soon virtually and decide on the action against her for this indiscipline,” he added.
What action TTFI takes against its high-profile player remains to be seen. However, it is certain that attendance of all India players will be made mandatory for national camps. Manika attended the national camp in Sonepat ahead of the Games for just three days. The camp had lasted more than three weeks.
Incidentally, G Sathiyan, who lost in the opening round in Tokyo, also chose to train with personal coach like Manika. However unlike Manika, Roy was seen sitting in Sathiyan’s corner during his second round encounter.
India’s campaign at the Games ended Tuesday when veteran Sharath Kamal went down fighting against reigning champion Ma Long of China in the round of 32. Manika, ranked 62, also did well to reach the round of 32 after beating World No. 32 in the second round. Roy happens to be personal coach of Sutirtha Mukherjee who lost in the second round in her maiden Olympics.
“Manika played well and we are proud of her achievements but she did wrong by not having Roy by her side,” informed Banerjee.