Manika Batra has taken her fight over Asian Games non-selection public, accusing the Table Tennis Federation of India of violating its own constitution in the selection process — and saying the battle has left her drained.

The 31-year-old, one of Indian table tennis's most decorated players, was named only as a reserve in the 10-member contingent announced for the Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. In an emotional post on X, Batra said the selection committee that decided her fate had nine members — two more than what the TTFI Constitution allows.

"TTFI, in its response to me, has stated that the entire selection process was conducted strictly in accordance with the rules. However, the documents available with me show that a 9-member Selection Committee decided the Asian Games team, while Article 24(C)(j) of the TTFI Constitution states that no Sub-Committee can have more than 7 members," she wrote.

The implication was direct: if the committee itself was constitutionally invalid, so was its decision. Batra said she would leave the public to draw its own conclusions, "especially those who have repeatedly said that rules must be respected and followed equally by everyone."

But even as she made the constitutional argument, she also signalled she was stepping back from the fight — at least for now. "I am mentally exhausted from this fight, and for now, I am putting my sword down," she wrote. Currently representing India at a tournament, she said her focus would shift entirely to competition. She wished the selected team well and signed off with "Jai Hind."

This is not the first time Batra has raised her voice over this selection. After the squad was announced, she had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, saying no specific reason had been communicated to her for being left out. She also flagged what she described as inconsistency — that different thresholds and criteria appeared to have been applied to her case compared to the previous Asian Games selection cycle.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist has been one of India's most prominent table tennis players over the past decade, and her exclusion from the main squad rather than just reserve status has drawn attention and sympathy from large sections of the sporting community.

TTFI has maintained that the selection was conducted strictly within the rules. The federation has not publicly responded to Batra's specific constitutional claim about the nine-member committee.

The selection controversy adds to a broader pattern of governance disputes that have periodically surfaced in Indian sports federations, where athletes have struggled to get clear answers on selection criteria and procedural compliance.

Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat made a strong start to her campaign for the Asian Games selection trials on Saturday, defeating Haryana's Jyoti 7-1 in the 53kg category at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. The bout, which lasted under a minute in key phases, saw Vinesh dominate with sharp offensive moves, including a clean single-leg takedown that left her opponent struggling.

The victory comes just a day after the Supreme Court cleared the way for her participation, dismissing a petition by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) that had sought to bar her from the trials.

 Early Morning Drama at the Stadium

The day began on a tense note. Vinesh and her husband Somvir Rathee had a brief altercation with security personnel over entry into the stadium premises. The issue was eventually resolved, allowing them inside. The incident added to the already charged atmosphere surrounding Vinesh's return to the mat amid her ongoing battles with wrestling authorities.

Weigh-in Controversy Resolved

Weigh-in formalities earlier in the morning triggered another flashpoint. Vinesh was initially placed in the 50kg category, a move she firmly opposed. She insisted on competing in her preferred 53kg division. WFI President Sanjay Singh stepped in to resolve the matter, and her weigh-in was conducted in the 53kg category. 

Sources familiar with the proceedings said the last-minute intervention helped avoid further delay. Vinesh later told reporters she had to wait nearly an hour before the issue was settled. “I no longer trust anyone here,” she remarked, adding that she had brought her own dietary supplies to maintain control over her preparation.

 Dominant Show on the Mat

Once on the mat, Vinesh showed little rust. Wearing the blue jersey, she applied immediate pressure on Jyoti Sihag from Hisar. The 7-1 scoreline reflected her control, with a notable chokehold and relentless offensive attacks from the opening seconds. Photographs from the venue captured her warming up with focused leg exercises and strategising closely with her coach and support staff.

Jyoti, who secured an Army job under the sports quota in 2024, boasts an impressive resume that includes a silver at the Asian Championships, a gold at the All India University Championships, and over ten other medals. Despite her credentials, she could not match Vinesh’s experience and intensity in the opening bout.

 Railways’ Antim Panghal Also in Fray

The 53kg category remains competitive. Railways wrestler Antim Panghal is also participating after completing all formalities. WFI officials confirmed that all eligible wrestlers, including Vinesh, were allowed to compete once they fulfilled the required conditions.

 Legal Battle That Paved the Way

Vinesh’s participation became possible only after judicial intervention. On May 28, the WFI approached the Supreme Court to stop her trials. A bench of Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe rejected the plea on May 29, enabling her to step on the mat.

This is not just another trial bout for the seasoned wrestler. Vinesh has been at the centre of significant controversies in Indian wrestling over the past couple of years. Her determination to compete despite multiple hurdles has drawn attention from fans and fellow athletes alike.

 What Lies Ahead

With the first bout secured, Vinesh will now focus on the remaining rounds in the trials. Her performance will be closely watched as selectors prepare the Indian team for the upcoming Asian Games. 

The trials carry added significance given the recent turbulence in the sport’s administration. Many in the wrestling fraternity see Vinesh’s presence as symbolic of athletes pushing back against systemic challenges.

Local observers at the stadium noted decent footfall and visible support for the Olympian. As the day progresses, more bouts will determine who eventually earns the coveted Asian Games berth.

India’s star archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das have been left out of the Indian archery team for the Asian Games 2026 after both failed to secure top positions in the selection trials held at the SAI Centre in Sonepat. The three-day trials saw a major reshuffle in both recurve and compound categories, with young archers outperforming several experienced names.

The Archery Association of India announced the final squad after the completion of trials for the upcoming Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in September–October 2026. The selection process proved highly competitive, with several close matches and shoot-offs deciding final places in the national team.

Deepika Kumari misses out after shoot-off defeat

Four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari, one of India’s most experienced archers, failed to make the Asian Games squad after finishing fourth in the recurve category. Her journey ended in a closely fought shoot-off against younger archer Ankita Bhakat, where Deepika narrowly lost. The battle for the final spot was intense, with Deepika and Ankita tied at 10.75 points after the initial rounds. However, Ankita held her nerve in the decisive shoot-off to secure the third and final place in the recurve women’s team, pushing Deepika out of contention.

Deepika Kumari, who has represented India in multiple Olympics and Asian Games since 2010, will now miss her second consecutive Asian Games appearance. She was also absent from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games due to maternity reasons. Despite her exit from the Asian Games squad, Deepika remains part of India’s World Cup circuit team and will continue competing in upcoming international events. Under current selection rules, four archers are chosen for World Cup events, while only the top three qualify for the Asian Games squad. Deepika has had a decorated career with multiple World Cup medals and Commonwealth Games success, but an individual Asian Games medal continues to elude her. Her best performance at the continental event remains a team bronze at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.

Young archers dominate recurve selection

The trials highlighted a strong emergence of young talent in Indian archery. Nineteen-year-old archer Kirti Sharma topped the recurve women’s section with an impressive 13.5 points, securing direct qualification to the Asian Games squad.

Kirti, who hails from Jind district in Haryana, has quickly risen through the ranks in Indian archery. Coming from a modest background, her father works in iron gate fabrication. She was identified during a talent scouting trial in 2022 and trained at the SAI Hazaribagh Centre in Jharkhand. Kirti made her international debut at the Asia Cup Stage-1 event in Bangkok earlier this year and has already represented India in three Asia Cup competitions. She has also contributed to a team bronze medal performance alongside experienced archers Riddhi Phor and Ruma Biswas. Along with Kirti, Maharashtra archer Kumkum Mohod secured the second position in the trials, confirming her place in the Asian Games squad. Their performances pushed senior archers down the rankings and ensured a new-look recurve team for India.

Major changes in compound archery lineup

The compound archery category also saw significant changes, with several established names missing out. India’s most successful compound archer Jyoti Surekha Vennam was the only senior athlete to retain her place in the team, ensuring continuity in the women’s compound squad. However, the men’s compound section witnessed a major upset. Experienced archer Abhishek Verma failed to deliver a strong performance and finished at the bottom among the top eight competitors, missing qualification for the Asian Games.

World number seven Rishabh Yadav also narrowly missed out on selection after finishing fourth in the trials. He was overtaken by Andhra Pradesh archer Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam, who secured his place in the final squad with a strong performance under pressure. India had dominated compound archery in the previous Asian Games, winning all five gold medals. However, this year’s team reflects a significant transition phase with younger athletes stepping into key roles.

Strong competition and future expectations

The selection trials in Sonepat witnessed intense competition across all categories, with archers pushing each other to the limit. Several matches were decided in shoot-offs, highlighting the narrow margins that separated qualification from elimination. The Archery Association of India emphasized that the selection was based purely on performance during trials, ensuring fairness and transparency in team selection.

The upcoming Asian Games in Japan are expected to be highly competitive, with countries like South Korea, China, and Japan traditionally dominating archery events. India will enter the tournament with a mix of experienced players and emerging young talent. While the exclusion of experienced names like Deepika Kumari and Abhishek Verma marks a significant shift, the inclusion of young archers signals a long-term strategy aimed at building depth for future international competitions, including the Olympics.

The focus now shifts to preparation camps and international exposure events as the selected archers gear up for one of the biggest sporting stages in Asia.

'Brijbhushan harassed me too': Vinesh Phogat reveals she is among six sexual harassment complainants

Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat publicly identifies herself as one of six victims in the sexual harassment case against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, citing unfair trial arrangements in Gonda ahead of Asian Games 2026.

In a move that has jolted Indian sport, Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat has come forward to disclose that she is one of six women who formally complained of sexual harassment by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India. Until now she had maintained anonymity, in line with Supreme Court guidelines protecting the dignity of complainants in such cases. She broke that silence on Saturday in a video statement, citing what she described as deliberate institutional pressure being mounted against her return to competition.

Breaking a long silence

Phogat was measured but unmistakably distressed as she explained her decision to speak. "The Supreme Court guidelines say that the identity of any victim should not be revealed," she said, before adding that circumstances had made it impossible for her to stay quiet any longer. "I want to say that I myself am one of those six victims who filed a complaint, and our testimonies are still ongoing." It is the first time any of the complainants has voluntarily identified herself in the case, which remains under trial before a Delhi court.

The Gonda problem

The immediate trigger, Phogat said, was a decision by the current WFI leadership to hold the Asian Games 2026 ranking trials at a wrestling facility in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh — a town strongly associated with Brij Bhushan, who maintains a private college and substantial local influence there. She called the choice of venue anything but coincidental.

"He has his own private college, and this competition is being organised there," she said. "That every hardworking athlete will get their due there — this is something very unlikely and almost impossible." She alleged that Brij Bhushan continues to direct affairs at the federation through its current president, Sanjay Singh. "Who will referee whose match, how many points a referee will give — all of this will be controlled by Brij Bhushan and his people," she said, accusing the sports ministry of watching as a silent spectator.

Mental toll on a comeback attempt

Phogat has been working toward competitive wrestling again after stepping away following the heartbreak of Paris 2024, where she was disqualified from the gold medal final on a weight issue in one of the most controversial moments in Indian Olympic history. Her statement made clear that the prospect of competing in Gonda is deeply unsettling.

"Going to his place, to his own college, where every person would be connected to him — going there and competing in such a situation is extremely difficult," she said. "Even after that, whether I will be able to go there and give my 100 percent, I do not think so." She spoke explicitly about the psychological weight that survivors carry into competitive situations. "For a woman, competing in such a situation is very difficult, and every athlete who has gone through such a situation can relate to this."

A protest movement revisited

Phogat was one of the most prominent faces of the prolonged sit-in at Jantar Mantar in early 2023, where she, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik led wrestlers in demanding Brij Bhushan's arrest and removal. Their agitation drew national attention and eventually led to the former WFI chief stepping down, though his supporters have retained considerable influence within the federation's structure. The criminal case — which includes charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in relation to one complainant who was a minor — has moved slowly through the courts.

Pressure mounts on sports ministry

Her statement puts fresh heat on the sports ministry and its oversight of WFI. Critics have repeatedly argued that despite formal leadership changes at the federation, the old power network remains intact. Phogat's account of how referees and match outcomes could be manipulated in Gonda gives that criticism a sharper, more specific edge. Sources within the wrestling community said several other ranked wrestlers share her concerns about the venue but have not spoken publicly.

Whether the WFI or the sports ministry responds by reconsidering the venue, or pushes ahead with Gonda, will be closely watched — and is likely to define Vinesh Phogat's decision on whether she competes in the Asian Games trials at all.

Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule Sparks Excitement: Can India Repeat Gold Glory?

The Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule is out, igniting buzz among fans. Announced by the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC), the T20 tournament kicks off on September 17 in Japan. With India as defending champions in both men's and women's events, this update arrives at a perfect time—amid rising cricket fever post recent internationals.

Cricket returns to the Asian Games after dazzling in Hangzhou 2023. The multi-sport spectacle runs from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi Prefecture. All T20 cricket Asian Games matches unfold at Korogi Athletic Park, promising high-octane action with double-headers daily.

Women's Tournament Leads the Charge

Women's cricket sets the tone, starting September 17 with eight teams battling it out. The final is locked for September 22.

• Morning sessions: 5:30 AM IST
  
  

• Afternoon clashes: 10:30 AM IST
  
  

India's women, led by Harmanpreet Kaur in 2023, clinched gold by thrashing Sri Lanka by 19 runs. Captain Kaur's aggressive style could shine again, especially with emerging talents like Shafali Verma pushing boundaries.

Men's Event Heats Up Later

The men's Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule begins September 24, featuring 10 teams. Medal matches start October 3, keeping fans hooked till the end.

India's men, under Ruturaj Gaikwad, grabbed gold when their 2023 final against Afghanistan was rain-washed—they topped the standings. Expect a similar high-stakes format: top teams straight to quarter-finals, others in qualifiers.

Why This Matters Now for Indian Fans

This announcement drops amid IPL auctions and T20 World Cup hype, making India Asian Games cricket a key focus. With stars like Virat Kohli or Jasprit Bumrah potentially eyeing multi-discipline glory, it boosts Olympic-like dreams for cricket. Japan hosting adds novelty—cricket's global push in Asia.

Experts like former selector Kris Srikkanth predict India's dominance: "T20 suits our aggressive batsmen. Gold is ours if we peak." For players, it's a resume booster; for fans, prime viewing with early IST starts.

Practical Takeaways for Cricket Lovers:

• Mark calendars: Women's final Sept 22, men's medals Oct 3.
  
  

• Stream via official AINAGOC channels or sports apps.
  
  

• Bet on India? Track squad announcements post-IPL.
  
  

As Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games near, the Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule promises redemption arcs and rivalries—think India vs Pakistan fireworks. Will the champions defend? Stay tuned; this T20 saga could redefine regional supremacy.

A Historic Convergence of Global Sports  

2026 is poised to be a landmark year for sports enthusiasts worldwide, featuring an unprecedented lineup of premier international events. From the icy slopes of Italy to the cricket grounds of South Asia and the football stadiums across North America, the calendar is packed with tournaments that promise to captivate billions. This convergence of the Olympic Games, World Cups, and multi-sport festivals in a single year offers a unique, non-stop journey through the pinnacle of international athletics.  

The year will test the endurance of fans and the logistical prowess of host nations, with major events scattered across nearly every continent. Here is your essential guide to the “mega-events” defining the 2026 sporting landscape.  

The Crown Jewels of 2026  

Five tournaments stand out for their global scale and prestige, creating a continuous cycle of elite competition from winter through autumn. The following timeline outlines these premier events:  

| Event | Host Nation(s) | Dates | Key Detail |

| Winter Olympics | Milan & Cortina, Italy | Feb 6 - Feb 22 | Features debut of ski mountaineering. |

| ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | India & Sri Lanka | Feb 7 - Mar 8 | 20 teams; final in Ahmedabad. |

| FIFA World Cup | USA, Canada, Mexico | Jun 11 - Jul 19 | First 48-team tournament; 104 matches. |

| Commonwealth Games | Glasgow, Scotland | Jul 23 - Aug 2 | Focused 10-sport program. |

| Asian Games | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan | Sep 19 - Oct 4 | 460 events in 42 sports. |

A Year-Round Spectacle  

Beyond the headline events, 2026’s schedule is filled with other prestigious contests ensuring a constant sporting dialogue. The year kicks off with the Australian Open tennis grand slam in January, while motorsport fans can follow the expanded 24-race Formula One calendar, which includes a new event in Madrid.  

The summer features Wimbledon (June 29-July 12) and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales. As the year winds down, the U.S. Open Tennis championships will conclude in New York.

Why 2026 is Unmissable  

This lineup is more than a busy calendar; it represents a powerful moment of global connection. In an era where major events are often spaced out, 2026 offers a rare concentration of cultural and athletic exchange.

It provides a platform for breakout stars, unforgettable narratives, and shared moments of triumph on the world’s biggest stages. For fans, it means the next major tournament is always on the horizon, promising a year where sporting history will be written almost daily.