TTFI evidence may lead to a non-compete obligation

Manika Batra’s accusations against table tennis coach Soumyadeep Roy that he pressured him to lose to Sutirtha Mukherjee in the Doha Olympic qualifiers in March may be retaliated after a text message from his coach Sanmay Paranjape, contradicting the player’s claim, has emerged.

Manika, whose serious allegations against Soumyadeep led to a legal battle with the Indian Table Tennis Federation (TTFI) and an investigation ordered by the Supreme Court of the Ministry of Sports, could face the fever caused by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Integrity Unit. known for its zero tolerance policy on unethical matters.

It may be recalled that on March 18, Sutirtha won Manika and reached the South Asian Olympic quota and Manika scored based on her higher ranking. If Manika had won, Sutirtha’s eligibility for the investment was questionable.

As part of the documents provided by TTFI to the ITTF, a text message sent by Sanmay to a former player at 11:14 a.m. on March 19 may blow up Manika’s allegations.

It reads: “My respect for Manika has now doubled. What he did for Sutirtha too, after he had encountered so much in life! He reached a position where he can help or not! He decided to help! This is real strength, a good heart and a genuine positive mind! She is truly a big-hearted woman. It matters in the country. “

Another document presented to the ITTF is from an ITTF-certified Blue Badge judge who served during the Doha Qualifying Tournament.

His statement says: “I testify to what I saw on 18 March 2021 and reaffirm the discussions I had with Mr Sanmay Paranjape on the morning of the match between Miss Manika Batran and Mrs Sutirtha Mukherjee.

– We were all in euphoria about the access of two Indians to the Olympics because it was already in the air. It could have happened in only one way, and that would have been if Sutirtha Mukherjee had defeated Manika, as the latter would automatically get on his world list. When Mr. Paranjape came and exchanged pleasures with me, I asked if both Indians were going to Tokyo. He replied with a smile that “you guessed right.”

“In fact, when he came to the match tonight, I asked him why he came to the venue, instead of resting in the hotel because we knew the result (Sutirtha’s victory), he laughed, saying he had come to watch the match.”

While key TTFI officials remained strict, a source aware of the procedure mentioned that the ITTF was likely to freeze Manika, Sutirtha, Soumyadeep and Sanmay because of their apparent role in producing the invented result in Doha.