Delhi High Court suspends TTFI, finds coach guilty of match-fixing

The decision comes after Manika Batra accused her coach of fixing matches.

Manika Batra is one of the most high-profile figures when it comes to table tennis in India. Before the Tokyo Olympics, the paddler had accused the national coach Soumyadeep Roy of match-fixing. As a result, the Delhi High Court on Friday found Roy guilty of these charges. The verdict also suspends the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) Executive Committee for six months.

The Delhi High Court judge observed, “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.”

“These people should be out of this, people who don’t understand how players are to be treated, to give them dignity. These players are the pride of the nation. These people (TTFI officials) have to be suspended,” the judge further added in his statement.

Manika Batra had alleged that the national coach pressurised her to throw away an Olympic Qualifier match in March 2021. 

Appointment of an administrator

The Delhi High Court further clarified that an administrator will be appointed for the functioning of the TTFI. “In view of the circumstances, the court is left with no option but to appoint an administrator. The Executive Committee of the respondent No. 1 will no longer be allowed to take any decision or interfere in the manner in which the administrator decides to discharge the duties assigned to him under the Code,” the verdict read.

Manika Batra had received a showcause notice after refusing to take the coach’s help during the women’s singles competition at the Tokyo Olympics. She then responded to the notice citing her inability to focus on her game with Roy on the sidelines. The paddler took the decision to move court after being left out of the 25th Asian Table Tennis Team Championships.

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