A source said that TTFI’s selection criteria violated sports ministry’s policy. “The selection policy is disadvantageous to some meritorious athletes and puts restrictions on them,” the source added. This follows star paddler Manika Batra’s controversial exclusion from the Asian Games squad. Batra — the country’s second-highest-ranked women’s singles player currently at world No. 56 — had gone public with her disappointment on the snub. She alleged that the federation violated its own constitution and that its selection policy was ambiguous and unfair. She later backed down, citing “mental exhaustion”.

The body has faced suspension for the second time in four years. TTFI was previously suspended in February 2022 by the Delhi High Court after Batra’s petition questioning the selection policy at the time, which caused her omission from the Asian Championships that year. The court had ordered the appointment of an administrator then, stating that it was “appalled” by the “sorry state of affairs” in TTFI. The federation was restored in December after fresh elections.

The issue of elections is again in the forefront, as the sports ministry has pointed out TTFI’s failure to conduct timely elections. The ministry has raised questions about the national sports federation’s effective functioning and stated that directions and guidelines issued by it have been “repeatedly disregarded”. The ministry had served a show-cause notice to the federation earlier and was not happy with the response furnished.

TTFI, on its part, will try to seek clarification from the sports ministry. Secretary-General Mehta told this paper that it was too early to comment on the matter, adding that he was yet to go through the ministry order.