Manika claims that coach Roy asked him to fix the match at the Olympics

Table tennis star Manika Batra has claimed that national team coach Soumyadeep Roy asked him to throw the match during the March Olympics qualifiers and that was the main reason he refused help in the Tokyo doubles match.

In response to the Indian Table Tennis Association’s Reason for Exhibition announcement, Manika vehemently denied that he had brought contempt for the game by refusing Roy’s help.

According to TTFI sources, world number 56 reported that he could not have focused on his match if someone who asked him to enjoy the match results months earlier would be sitting next to him.

“In addition to having to avoid the disruption caused by his last-minute intervention, there was another and much more serious reason why I liked playing without a national team coach,” the Khel Ratna Prize winner said in his response to TTFI Secretary Arun Banerje.

“The coach had put pressure on me during the Doha Qualifying Tournament in March 2021 so that he could grant his match to his student so he could get to the Olympics — in short — matchmaking,” he said.

Despite repeated attempts, Roy was not available to respond to the allegations. The player-authorized coach has also not been asked to join the ongoing national camp and has been invited by TTFI to present his story.

“The allegations are against Roy. Let him respond and then we will decide what to do next,” Banerjee said when asked about Manika’s response to the show ad.

Roy is a former gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games at the team event and also an Arjuna award winner.

Both Manika and Sutirtha Mukherjee, who practice at Roy’s Academy, ended up at the Tokyo Olympics.

“I have evidence of this case and I am ready to present it to the competent authorities at the right time. The coach asked me to admit the match in person at my hotel room and spoke to me for almost 20 minutes,” said Manika.

“He tried to promote his own student by unethical means under the pretext of national interest. He was accompanied by his student, who was practicing at a private academy, not only under his leadership, but also under his name.

“For my part, I did not promise to oblige him and immediately informed the TTFI official. I decided not to obey the unethical command of the national team coach. But his intimidation and pressure affected my mental framework and thus the performance.

“During the Olympics, I wanted to stay away from the distressing influence of such a coach. As a player representing India, it was my duty to serve the country in the best possible way.”

Manika made history by reaching the third round, while Sutirtha did well in the second round as well.

TTFI had called Manika’s refusal to take Roy’s advice undisciplined and introduced him.

“I strongly deny accusations that I have condemned the reputation of TTFI, the Government of India and the country and undermined the appointment of a national coach by playing solo matches at the Tokyo Olympics without the presence of a national coach on the field.

“In fact, and vice versa, I have served my country and TTFI in the best possible way by playing matches alone,” he wrote.

Manika also questioned TTFI because it did not take action against Roya.

“I have been falsely accused of‘ condemning the country to the ground against an empty coach’s chair. ’To act quickly as a result of reporting my case and not so-called‘ indiscipline ’.

“Unfortunately, when I again raised the issue of coach’s match weighting tactics in an email I sent on March 14, 2021, TTFI directly denied this matter without even a preliminary, impartial, and transparent investigation.

“Finally, I repeat and in summary, I haven’t done anything wrong with playing matches alone,” he claimed.

This story has been published from a wireless office feed with no changes to the text.