TTFI urges ministry to revoke suspension
The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) on Thursday flagged the implications of the Sports Ministry’s decision to suspend the national body for the sport, stressing that its autonomy under the IOC’s Olympic Charter must be respected and its governance kept free from third-party interference.
It also urged the Ministry to keep its August 12 order in abeyance and reconsider the matter afresh.
The ministry on Wednesday withdrew recognition of the TTFI and asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad hoc committee to run the sport, citing governance lapses.
The ministry said the TTFI’s failure to hold elections on time was among the reasons for the suspension, following an “unsatisfactory response” to a show-cause notice issued earlier this year.
“TTFI respectfully seeks the Ministry’s kind consideration of the implications that any external or interim administrative arrangement may have in this regard, including the principles of autonomy recognised under Rules 27 and 28 of the Olympic Charter,” TTFI said in a statement written by its President Meghna Ahlawat.
“The Olympic Charter and the Statutes of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) recognise and expressly protect the autonomy of National Sports Federations and require their governance and administration to remain free from any third-party interference,” it added.
The statement, while expressing its high regard for the ministry, said the federation was duly registered under the Societies Act and that its governance and administration as an autonomous National Sports Federation were governed by its Constitution and the applicable principles of sporting autonomy.
“TTFI is an autonomous society duly registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and is governed by its Constitution and General Body. The Federation holds the Ministry in the highest regard and recognises its role. “At the same time, TTFI respectfully submits that the governance and administration of an autonomous National Sports Federation are guided by its Constitution and the applicable principles of sporting autonomy and good governance,” the statement said.
TTFI chief Ahlawat, who took charge in December 2022, is the wife of former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, son of former TTFI president Ajay Singh Chautala.
The federation has been embroiled in turmoil for several months. In January, it suspended its secretary general and former player Kamlesh Mehta over alleged financial irregularities. Mehta challenged the suspension in the Delhi High Court, which later quashed it.
The TTFI said the issues cited in the Ministry’s order had been addressed before the show-cause notice was issued in June this year. It said the factual position was presented to the Ministry on July 7 and maintained that the deficiencies cited were either “factually incorrect” or had been “remedied” well before the notice.
“TTFI respectfully submits that the matters referred to in the Order had, in the Federation’s understanding, either been addressed prior to the issuance of the Show Cause Notice dated 30.06.2026 or required further factual clarification.
“The position in this regard was duly placed before the Ministry through TTFI’s detailed reply dated 07.07.2026, supported by contemporaneous minutes, resolutions and audited records,” it said.
“TTFI submits that each of the deficiencies cited in the impugned Order was either factually incorrect or had already been remedied well before the Show Cause Notice dated 30.06.2026 was issued, as was placed on record in the Federation’s detailed reply dated 07.07.2026.”
The statement added that several Indian players featured in the world’s top 100, including the top 50, and delivered medal-winning performances at the 2022 Asian Games and 2026 Asian Youth Championships -- evidence, it said, of the TTFI’s effective functioning.
“The performance of India’s table tennis players -- with five Indian women and three Indian men now ranked in the ITTF world Top-100/Top-50 respectively, medal-winning performances at the (2022) Asian Games and the Asian Youth Championships, 2026, and a robust junior pipeline -- stands as clear testimony that the Federation has continued to function effectively in the interest of its athletes throughout the period in question.
“TTFI remains in close and constructive engagement with the Ministry and is fully committed to addressing any concerns that may be brought to its attention. The Federation remains committed to working with the Ministry in a spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding,” it added.
“TTFI believes that concerns referred to in the Show Cause Notice have either been duly addressed or appropriately clarified. The Federation therefore proposes to request the Ministry to kindly keep the Order dated 12.08.2026 in abeyance and to consider the matter afresh.”
The Federation reaffirmed its full commitment to good governance, transparency and accountability.
“TTFI reiterates its full commitment to the principles of good governance, transparency and accountability under the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 and the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and to the Ministry’s continued guidance.”
