Participation in Khelo India must, says TTFI’S COA

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court-appointed Committee of Administrators (COA) running the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has made participation in the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in Panchkula from June 4-13 compulsory. The table tennis events will be held from June 9-12.

The directive means some of India’s top players will have to skip international events.

Players and parents expressed ‘surprise’ at Coa’s circular dated May 23. “All those who are selected to play in the Khelo India organised tournaments are advised that their participation in these tournaments is compulsory. Priority has to be given to the Khelo India tournaments over all international tournaments except for the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and world championships, except in the eventuality or exceptional circumstance of sickness of a like nature and the exemption shall require the approval of the COA,” the circular said.

The WTT Contender i n Zagreb from June 13-19 carries world ranking points. Youth Contender meets in Argentina (boys June 3-5, girls June 13-15) and Czech Republic (June 6-12) will also clash with KIYG. Diya

Chitale and Swastika Ghosh, India No 3 and 4 respectively, are in the India team for the Zagreb tournament. “It would be good if the schedule can be managed in a manner that the girls’ event gets over by afternoon of June 11 so that Diya can travel with the team,” her father Parag Chitale said. Diya, who reached the prequarters in the senior nationals, is among the country’s rising players and won the WTT Youth title in Peru this month. She will be back in India for KIYG.

“We have not received any communication from the government or TOPS on making KIYG compulsory. So why has COA put out such a rule?” asked Swastika’s father and coach Sandeep Ghosh.

A member of the COA said “KIYG is an important tournament and we don’t want our players to miss out.”

Women’s team on hold

The COA named Sharath Kamal, G Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai and Sanil Shetty in the CWG men’s team. Manush Shah is on standby. The women’s team comprising Manika Batra, Archana Kamath, Sreeja Akula, Reeth Rishya and Diya Chitale (standby) will still need to be ratified by SAI. “Kamath is falling slightly outside the selection criteria but she is a medal prospect, so we need to discuss,” said a COA member.