Manika Batra vs TTFI – Manika Batra’s Sensational Allegations: Manika Batra accuses national coach of asking her to throw matches – In a shocking revelation, India’s ace table tennis player Manika Batra has alleged that national coach Soumyadeep Roy asked her to throw matches in the Olympics qualifiers. The comments came after Batra responded to TTFI’s show-cause notice for refusing to take Roy’s help during Tokyo Olympics.
TTFI has now called for explaination from the coach on Batra’s allegations – Follow all updates on the matter LIVE
TTFI Secretary General Arun Kumar Banerjee told ANI. “You cannot call it match fixing unless you have the complete version from both sides. We have to hear what Soumyadeep has to say to Manika’s allegations.”
Asked about the next step, the TTFI Secretary General said the federation will first speak to the coach and any action will be taken only after that. “We have informed the coach about the reply from Manika to the show cause notice. I haven’t spoken to him in the last two days. Let’s see what he says and we can decide on the next course of action after that,” he pointed.
Manika Batra’s Fixing Allegations: Batra alleges, ‘national coach asked me to fix matches’, TTFI asks for explanation from coach: follow live updates
Manika Batra vs TTFI – Manika Batra’s Sensational Allegations: Manika Batra said it was the main reason for refusing to take his help during the matches in Tokyo Olympics. Batra crashed out of Tokyo Games in the 3rd round. According to TTFI sources, the World No 56 said she would not have been able to focus on her match if someone who asked her to indulge in match-fixing months earlier was sitting by her side.
“Besides the need to avoid disturbance due to his last-minute intervention, there was an additional and much more serious reason behind my preference to play without the national coach. The national coach had pressurised me during the qualification tournament in Doha in March 2021 to concede my match to his student to enable her to qualify for Olympics – in short- to indulge in match-fixing,” the Khel Ratna awardee alleged in her response to TTFI secretary Arun Banerjee.
Also Read: Manika Batra vs TTFI: Manika Batra’s blunt statement on coaches row, ‘personal coach must, Indian Chief coach should be for team events’
Manika Batra vs TTFI – Manika Batra’s Sensational Allegations: Despite repeated attempts, Soumyadeep Roy was not available for a response to the allegations. The player-turned coach has also not been asked to join the ongoing national camp and has been told by TTFI to present his side of the story.
Manika Batra vs TTFI: Manika Batra’s big allegation against national coach Soumyadeep Roy, ‘He asked me to throw matches’
“The allegations are against Roy. Let him respond and then we will decide future course of action,” said Arun Banerjee when asked about Manika’s response to the show-cause notice.
Roy is a former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist in the team event and also an Arjuna awardee. Both Manika and Sutirtha Mukherjee, who train in Roy’s academy, ended up qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.
“I have evidence of this incident and I am ready to present it to the competent authorities at the appropriate time. For asking me to concede the match, the national coach personally met me in my hotel room and talked to me for nearly 20 minutes,” said Manika Batra.
“He tried to promote his own student using unethical means under the pretext of national interest. He was accompanied by his student who trains in the private academy not only run by, but also named after him.
Manika Batra vs TTFI: “From my side, I did not promise to oblige him and promptly reported this matter to a TTFI official. I decided not to obey the unethical command of the national coach. But his intimidation and pressure had its effect on my mental frame and consequently my performance.
“During the Olympics, I wanted to keep away from the demoralising effect of such a coach. Because, as a player representing India, it was my duty to serve my country in the best possible way,” Manika Batra added.
Manika made history by reaching the third round while Sutirtha also did well to reach the second round.
Manika Batra vs TTFI – Manika Batra’s Sensational Allegations: TTFI had called Manika’s refusal to take Roy’s advice as an act of indiscipline and showcased her.
Manika Batra vs TTFI: Manika Batra’s big allegation against national coach Soumyadeep Roy, ‘He asked me to throw matches’
“I strongly deny the charge therein that I brought disrepute to TTFI, Government of India and the country and undermined the appointment of the national coach by playing my singles matches in the Tokyo Olympics without the presence of the national coach in the field of play. In fact and on the contrary, I have served my country and TTFI in the best possible way by playing my matches alone,” Manika Batra wrote.
Manika Batra vs TTFI: Manika also questioned TTFI for not taking action against Roy. “I have been falsely charged with ‘bringing disrepute to the country by the sight of an empty chair of the coach’. But the truth is that the ’empty chair’ was the result of the national coach’s pressure tactics for match-fixing and TTFI’s inaction to act on my prompt reporting of that incident and not the result of my so-called ‘indiscipline’.
“Unfortunately, when I raised the issue of the match-fixing pressure tactics by the national coach again in my e-mail dated 14’th August 2021, TTFI refuted this issue outright without even a preliminary, impartial and transparent inquiry. Finally, to reiterate and summarise, I have done nothing wrong in playing my matches alone,” she asserted.
Manika Batra vs TTFI: Manika Batra’s big allegation against national coach Soumyadeep Roy, ‘He asked me to throw matches’
With inputs from PTI
