Tokyo Olympics 2020: TTFI says Manika Batra refusing help from national coach an 'act of indiscipline'

New Delhi: Table Tennis Federation of India (TTF) on Tuesday called Manika Batra’s decision to not take the help of national coach Soumyadeep Roy during her matches at the Tokyo Olympics as a brazen “act of indiscipline” and she will certainly face action when its Executive Board meets early next month.

Roy, who is a 2006 Commonwealth Games team event gold medallist and an Arjuna awardee, is the only coach who travelled with the four-member team to Tokyo.

Manika had taken her personal coach Sanmay Paranajpe to the Games but he was only allowed to train with her and the player’s request for his Field of Play access was denied by the organisers.

“It is surely an act of indiscipline. She should have let the national coach sit court-side during her matches just like the other players did. Roy has been one of India’s best players and is a reputed coach now.

“The Executive Board will meet soon virtually and decide on the action against her for this indiscipline,” TTFI secretary general Arun Kumar Banerjee told.