NEW DELHI, June 7: Young Indian table tennis player Diya Chitale, who had approached the Delhi High Court over her exclusion from the women’s CWG squad, was on Tuesday included in the side for the July-August event at the expense of Archana Kamath.
However, Manush Shah, who had also filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court against his non-selection, remains a reserve player with no changes made in the men’s squad, which will be led by Sharath Kamal.
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) running the suspended Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) had last week announced a provisional women’s team comprising Manika Batra, Kamath, Sreeja Akula and Reeth Rishya in the team with 19-year-old Chitale as the standby.
The team was subject to clearance from Sports Authority of India (SAI) but on Monday the Sports Ministry threw the ball back in CoA’s court, saying squad selection was the responsibility of the national sports federation.
The selection committee, chaired by CoA member S D Mudgil, met again on Monday after SAI’s response and finalised the team.
Kamath, who was supposed to play doubles alongside Manika, has been excluded from the squad all together and Swastika Ghosh has been put on standby.
“There is only one change. Diya comes in as the fourth player in place of Archana. Archana did not meet the criteria but we thought she is also a good medal prospect (as she is world number 4 alongside Manika). But we were in a dilemma and that is why we went to the SAI and sought its guidance.
“The selectors in the end took the call to include Diya who has also done well domestically and as well as in international events. She would be playing the doubles alongside Manika,” Mudgil told PTI.
The team selection factors in performances in domestic (50 per cent) and international tournaments (30 per cent) while the remaining 20 per cent is left for the selectors’ discretion.
However, the CoA has decided to change the ratio to 40-40-20 from the next season.
A place in the squad still not guaranteed, Manush Shah has decided to go ahead with the case which is coming up for hearing on June 10.
“There is no going back now. We will not withdraw the case and see what happens in the hearing on June 10,” Manush’s father Utpal told PTI.
“There are time constraints too with deadline to send entries being June 29. After the CoA decision it looks tough for us but we remain hopeful. We also have written to CoA thrice on what grounds Manush has not made the team but we haven’t got a response.”
CoA to finalise coaches ahead of Commonwealth Games
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The CoA also finalised former players S Raman and Anindita Chakraborty as the coaches for the men’s and women’s teams for the Games in Birmingham.
Raman happens to the personal coach of leading India player G Sathiyan and also runs a private academy but the CoA said it will be taking an undertaking from him to ensure there is no conflict of interest.
Squads:
Men: Sharath Kamal, G Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Sanil Shetty, Manush Shah (standby).
Women: Manika Batra, Diya Chitale, Reeth Rishya, Sreeja Akula, Swastika Ghosh (standby). (PTI)
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