The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), the body responsible for running the sport in the country, has been suspended by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports since August 12, 2026, following serious scrutiny of its functioning.
The suspension is not a ban on table tennis in India. It targets the federation, not the sport. For the time being, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), with support from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), is running operations and conducting tournaments at all levels across the country.
The action followed the federation’s failure to hold its elections within the stipulated time. The ministry had earlier issued a show-cause notice, but it found the federation’s reply unsatisfactory. The missed election, however, appears to be only the tip of the iceberg. Tensions have reportedly simmered within the organisation for months, and several of its decisions have come under question. Most notably, general secretary Kamlesh Mehta was suspended in January over alleged irregularities in the federation’s affairs, a matter that later became part of legal proceedings.
Another flashpoint was the federation’s refusal to select star paddler Manika Batra for the 2026 Asian Games. Batra objected and took the matter to court, raising further questions about the federation’s internal decision-making and damaging its public standing.
For fans and players, the suspension does not bring the sport to a halt, nor does it bar Indian athletes from competing internationally. The action is aimed at administrative failings that the federation must answer for.
Even so, players say the disruption is being felt. One senior paddler, who represented India at the WTT Star Contender in Chennai and asked not to be named, said: “As senior athletes, I feel the recent TTFI ban is affecting the sport badly, especially the players who have worked for years towards their goals. We want the federation to maintain transparency, communicate clearly with athletes, and take decisions keeping players’ careers and development in mind. We need a system where athletes’ concerns are genuinely heard and addressed.”
The federation, for its part, has opposed the ministry’s decision. It argues that its autonomy is protected under the Olympic Charter and ITTF regulations, and says it has already addressed some of the concerns the ministry raised.
The suspension brings long-standing issues of transparency, accountability, internal functioning and elections to the forefront. The government’s priority is to keep the sport functioning in the meantime, while the federation’s stated aim is to build a more stable and accountable structure.
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