National Table Tennis Championships 2025: Disputed faction from Rajasthan qualifies for next year’s National Games
National Table Tennis Championships 2025: Disputed faction from Rajasthan qualifies for next year’s National Games
It may not have won a medal but the sensational run of TTFI-1 men’s outfit – comprising one of the disputed factions of the Rajasthan Table Tennis Association (RTTA) – has created a stir at the 86th Senior National Table Tennis Championship.
The TTFI-1 men – including Shubham Ojha, Harsh Srivastava, Priyansh Bhati, Anukram Jain and Lakshya Toshniwal – first stunned Bengal to top its group and then marched into the quarterfinal to seal a direct entry for the next year’s National Games, scheduled to be held in Chhattisgarh.
RTTA secretary Sanjay Gehlot hoped that the internal dispute can be resolved with the other faction, allowing the National Games aspirations to be fulfilled.
“The boys have worked extremely hard. To first qualify and then finish joint fifth is indeed incredible. We wish that the TTFI (Table Tennis Federation of India) can help us resolve all the issues and even the other team players can be considered for the National Games selection,” RTTA secretary Sanjay Gehlot told Sportstar on Thursday.
“Qualifying for the National Games is a huge achievement and honour for Rajasthan table tennis fraternity. Hopefully all the issues are put on the backburner at the earliest and players’ welfare is prioritised.”
However, a TTFI official, requesting anonymity, was not sure whether the National Games officials will accept the TTFI-1 team as the official Rajasthan outfit.
“TTFI has always ensured players do not suffer for any reason and will continue to do so but it will be dicey to convince the authorities about this peculiar situation, should the National Games be played next year,” the official said.
Since two different factions had claimed to be custodians of table tennis in Rajasthan, the TTFI has allowed both associations to field a team under its banner since the previous Nationals. RTTA – who is the affiliate of the TTFI – had filed a petition against the other faction and TTFI but withdrew it in September 2023.
The TTFI executive committee will be in a spot of bother should the other faction – or any of the other states – raise objection at the time of the National Games.
Top 10 teams in men’s and women’s team championship of the previous Nationals compete at the National Games.
The singles main draws for men and women will commence on Friday.
