TTFI Banned: India Sports Ministry suspends Table Tennis Federation of India for Lack of Proper Governance

The Sports Ministry on Wednesday suspended the recognition of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), citing serious governance lapses within the national sports federation.

The ministry has also directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad hoc committee to oversee the sport.

The decision came after the TTFI submitted what the Ministry termed an “unsatisfactory response” to a show-cause notice issued earlier this year over several issues, including delays in conducting elections and concerns surrounding athlete welfare.

As per the Ministry’s order, the IOA, in consultation with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), will take steps to establish an interim regulatory mechanism until a properly constituted governance structure is restored in the TTFI.

“The IOA, in consultation with the international body (ITTF) will take appropriate action to create an internal regulatory mechanism, including the constitution of an ad-hoc committee, till such time that a duly constituted governance structure is restored in TTFI,” said a statement.

The federation is currently headed by Meghna Ahlawat, who became its first woman President after taking charge in December 2022. She is the wife of Haryana MLA Dushyant Chautala and daughter-in-law of former TTFI President Ajay Singh Chautala.

The TTFI has faced mounting internal issues in recent months. In January, it suspended former India player and Secretary General Kamlesh Mehta, citing alleged financial irregularities. Mehta subsequently challenged the decision in the Delhi High Court, which quashed his suspension.

The episode was widely viewed as part of an internal power struggle within the federation. The TTFI, however, rejected the allegation and maintained that the action was taken “solely to safeguard transparency, collective decision-making, and the long-term interests of Indian table tennis.”

The federation also faced criticism over the omission of star paddler Manika Batra from the Asian Games squad. The TTFI had cited her lack of requisite domestic game time, but Batra publicly questioned the selection process and sought the intervention of the Sports Ministry, alleging that the criteria were ambiguous and unfair.

The Ministry subsequently took cognisance of the issues and issued a show-cause notice to the federation. According to Ministry sources, the TTFI’s response failed to adequately address the concerns raised.

Among the other issues highlighted was the delayed conduct of the National Championships last year, which the Ministry cited as an example of the federation’s failure to adequately address athlete welfare.

The Ministry also noted that the TTFI is yet to initiate a clear process for its elections, which are due to be held this year. It said the federation had failed to uphold the standards of accountability and democratic functioning expected of a National Sports Federation and had “repeatedly disregarded directions and guidelines” issued by the Ministry.

This is not the first time the TTFI has faced government or judicial intervention. In February 2022, the Delhi High Court suspended the federation following a petition by Batra challenging its selection policy, which had resulted in her omission from that year’s Asian Championships.