With nearly eight months to go for continental games in Japan, turmoil within the Table Tennis Federation of India do not augur well

With nearly eight months to go for the Asian Games in Japan, turmoil within the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), could hurt table tennis prospects at Asian Games in Japan. At a time when focus should be improving previous Asian Games performance of one bronze medal in women’s doubles, TTFI secretary general Kamlesh Mehta has been suspended for “irregularities” during the AGM (Annual General Meeting) chaired by president Meghna Ahlawat on January 30.

Former International

Mehta, a former international, says he was clueless about allegations levelled against him. “I wasn’t at the AGM on January 30. So can’t speak on the issues,” Mehta told Sportsbackstory.com over the phone. After Mehta’s suspension, TTFI has changed its official e-mail password and Mehta can’t access his official e-mail.

TTFI has temporarily given the responsibility of secretary general to Maharashtra’s Yatin Tipnis. When contacted Tipnis was reluctant to throw light on his role and future development plans.

Domestic competitions

The TTFI is yet to commence its 2026 domestic calendar which can force the elite players to change their training pattern.  “The president and secretary general were not on the same platform,” an official familiar with the development says. “It has impacted the development of table tennis in the country.”

The senior nationals, which are yet to be held, has been announced now to be organised tentatively in Indore from March 15 to 22. This after the Sports Ministry sent a communication to TTFI asking why the annual calendar and national championships are yet to be announced. This being an important year of Asian Games, TTFI officials are busy with their internal wrangling rather than plan towards preparing the athletes for the major event.

Not on same page

Indifference between president (Meghna) and secretary general (Mehta), it is learnt, were brewing since May last. Meghna is wife of former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala. Chautala was president of TTFI between 2017 to 2022. As per TTFI website, Dushyant is the president of Haryana unit.

TTFI faces a number of challenges in 2026. One of them is to start its own league as a commercial agreement with Eleven Sports will expire this year in August. The federation will shortly float fresh tenders to invite sponsors.

Prize money

The TTFI also plans to increase prize money for National Championships. Following the revision, the prize money for the Senior Inter-State Nationals will be ₹20.10 lakh, Youth and Junior Nationals ₹8.53 lakh, and the Cadet and Sub-Junior Nationals ₹5.09 lakh.

In future the national governing body of table tennis in India will charge royalty for all WTT tournaments on the Indian soil conducted by private organisers.

Mehta was reluctant to throw light on his next move saying the last three were on the right track, but admitted it wasn’t a good start to 2026. “In Asian Games cycle there should have been harmony and goodwill to have good performance at the continental games,” Mehta told Sportsbackstory.com over the phone.

EOM