The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (“Ministry”) has suspended, with immediate effect and until further orders, the recognition granted to the Table Tennis Federation of India (“TTFI”) as the National Sports Federation (“NSF”) for table tennis. The order dated August 12, 2026 records a series of governance, transparency, accountability and compliance concerns and concludes that continued recognition could not be sustained in the prevailing circumstances. The Ministry has also asked the Indian Olympic Association (“IOA”), in consultation with the International Table Tennis Federation (“ITTF”), to establish an interim mechanism, including an Ad-Hoc Committee, to administer the sport and safeguard athletes’ participation in national and international competitions.
The decision is significant as the Ministry has not treated the issues within TTFI as an isolated dispute between office bearers. Instead, the order identifies cumulative institutional deficiencies, including repeated non-compliance with Government directions and governance requirements, financial transparency concerns, deficiencies in athlete selection and grievance redressal, concerns regarding the composition and functioning of the Federation’s bodies, failure to conduct elections within the required time, and continuing differences between its senior office bearers.
Regulatory framework governing recognition
The Ministry’s order emphasises that recognition as an NSF carries continuing obligations. NSFs are expected to follow healthy management practices, democratic governance, institutional accountability, transparency in administration, proper accounting procedures and transparent athlete selection processes. The framework also requires adherence to basic principles of good governance in sports, holding of elections in accordance with the applicable guidelines, prevention of age fraud and sexual harassment, effective grievance redressal mechanisms and compliance with directions issued by the Government.
Accordingly, continued recognition is subject to compliance with the applicable legal framework, the Federation’s constitution and the conditions governing recognition. The Ministry records that failure to meet these requirements may result in recognition being reviewed, suspended or withdrawn in the interests of sportspersons and the orderly administration of the sport.
Multiple instances of non-compliance
The Ministry’s findings against TTFI extend across several aspects of its administration and reflect repeated instances of non-compliance with Ministry directions and governance requirements.
One concern related to the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) at an Annual General Meeting held on July 19, 2024. According to the Ministry, the appointment was contrary to its directives dated February 28, 2022, despite TTFI being aware of those directions. The Ministry also noted that TTFI had not satisfactorily explained why the appointment was made and that the purported subsequent resignation of the CEO was not intimated to the Ministry. The Ministry considered the later corrective action insufficient to explain the initial non-compliance and observed that it demonstrated a failure of the internal governance mechanism to ensure adherence to Ministry directions.
Financial transparency was another significant concern. The Ministry found TTFI’s explanation regarding the delayed uploading of its audited financial statements unsatisfactory. Although the financial statements for FY 2023–24 were audited on September 30, 2024, they were not uploaded on the TTFI website until June 2026. The Ministry considered the delay unexplained. It further noted that the audited financial statements for FY 2024–25 were not placed before the Annual General Meeting held on January 28, 2026 for adoption. According to the Ministry, these cumulative lapses reflected deficiencies in TTFI’s financial governance and undermined the transparency and accountability expected of an NSF receiving public funds and operating under regulatory oversight.
Athlete selection and grievance redressal
The Ministry also scrutinised TTFI’s athlete selection framework.
The order refers to TTFI’s selection policies dated May 9, 2023 and July 14, 2026, as well as the Ministry’s selection policy dated March 5, 2025. The Ministry raised concerns regarding the fairness and operation of the selection criteria and observed that certain criteria could disadvantage athletes participating regularly in international circuits and having better world rankings.
The Ministry further noted that TTFI’s selection policy did not adequately address selection criteria for major sporting events such as the Olympic Games and Asian Games, despite the Ministry’s policy providing qualification pathways for such events. The absence of an adequate mechanism for addressing athletes’ grievances relating to selection was also identified as a deficiency.
The constitution and functioning of the Grievance Redressal Committee/Dispute Resolution Committee came under similar scrutiny. The Ministry found that TTFI had not satisfactorily explained the procedure followed for constituting the relevant committees and considered the deficiencies inconsistent with the objective of ensuring fair, accountable and procedurally transparent selection and grievance redressal mechanisms for athletes.
These observations extend beyond internal administrative compliance and relate directly to athlete welfare, access to competitions and the fairness and transparency of selection processes.
Concerns regarding democratic functioning
The Ministry also identified concerns regarding the prolonged continuation of an interim Treasurer. According to the order, the position had remained without a regular appointment for more than 18 months. The Ministry considered TTFI’s failure to fill the vacancy through the prescribed electoral process within the required time to be inconsistent with principles of democratic governance, institutional accountability and transparency.
The Ministry also raised concerns regarding the composition of TTFI’s Executive Committee. It observed that, at the AGM held on January 28, 2026, certain persons were nominated as members of the Executive Committee despite concerns regarding their eligibility under the Ministry’s applicable guidelines. This, according to the Ministry, raised concerns regarding the legality, transparency and democratic functioning of the Federation.
The Ministry’s findings therefore extend beyond internal disagreements and encompass the functioning of TTFI’s governing structures and its compliance with the requirements applicable to recognised NSFs.
Continuing dispute between senior office bearers
A particularly significant aspect of the order concerns the continuing differences between TTFI’s President and Secretary General. The Ministry observed that the dispute had progressed beyond a personal disagreement and had affected institutional decision-making and policy formulation within the Federation.
The Ministry relied, in this context, on the Delhi High Court’s judgment in Kamlesh Mehta v. Table Tennis Federation of India & Ors., W.P.(C) 1680/2026, decided on May 11, 2026. The Delhi High Court had set aside the earlier decision of TTFI’s Executive Committee suspending the Secretary General and declaring him persona non grata. The Court found that the action had been taken without providing the affected office bearer an opportunity of hearing and held that principles of natural justice were required to be read into the relevant provision of TTFI’s Memorandum of Association.
At the same time, the Court did not disregard the broader governance concerns. While setting aside the suspension on grounds of natural justice, it recognised the seriousness of the allegations concerning the functioning of the Federation and directed an inquiry into TTFI’s functioning. The Ministry’s order refers to the Court’s observations concerning the internal differences and their potential impact on the administration of the sport.
Thus, the High Court proceedings are relevant to the Ministry’s decision in two distinct respects: the earlier disciplinary action against the Secretary General was set aside for failure to comply with natural justice, while the Court nevertheless considered an inquiry into TTFI’s functioning necessary.
Why the Ministry considered suspension necessary
Before suspending recognition, the Ministry issued a Show Cause Notice dated June 30, 2026 to TTFI. TTFI submitted its response on July 7, 2026. The Ministry states that it considered the response along with the material available on record and the issues raised with TTFI from time to time.
The Ministry ultimately found that TTFI’s explanations did not satisfactorily address the repeated instances of non-compliance with Government directions, deficiencies in institutional functioning and continuing governance concerns.
The Ministry also considered whether the deficiencies could be addressed through further advisories or directions. It concluded that the material on record demonstrated repeated non-compliance despite earlier interventions, corrective action that did not adequately address the underlying concerns, and continuing impairment of the Federation’s institutional governance structure.
In the Ministry’s assessment, continuation of the existing governance arrangement was likely to prejudice the interests of athletes and the orderly administration of table tennis, while a lesser regulatory measure would not adequately address the prevailing situation. The suspension followed this assessment.
Suspension and interim administration
In exercise of the powers referred to in the order under the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 and other applicable regulations, the Ministry suspended TTFI’s recognition with immediate effect until further orders.
During the period of suspension, TTFI will not be entitled to financial assistance, official patronage or other benefits accruing from recognition as an NSF.
To ensure continuity in the administration of table tennis, the Ministry has asked the IOA, in consultation with the ITTF, to set up an interim mechanism or Ad-Hoc Committee to administer the sport. The IOA later constituted an Ad-Hoc Committee on September 17, 2026. The arrangement is intended to safeguard the interests of athletes, facilitate their continued participation in national and international competitions and maintain continuity in the administration of the sport until a duly compliant governance structure is restored within TTFI.
Conclusion
The Ministry’s suspension of TTFI’s recognition underscores that recognition as an NSF carries continuing responsibilities relating to good governance, transparency, accountability, democratic functioning and compliance with regulatory directions.
The order adopts a cumulative approach, taking into account financial reporting, athlete selection, grievance redressal, appointments, electoral processes, the composition of governing bodies and internal governance concerns. The Ministry also specifically considered whether further directions or advisories would be sufficient and concluded that the deficiencies remained unresolved despite earlier interventions.
The Delhi High Court proceedings provide an important parallel. While the Court set aside the suspension of an office bearer on account of the failure to comply with principles of natural justice, it nevertheless directed an inquiry into TTFI’s functioning. The Ministry’s subsequent order considers the continuing governance concerns in the context of its regulatory oversight of the Federation.
The matter therefore highlights the continuing obligations attached to recognition as an NSF and the importance of transparent, accountable and democratically functioning sports administration, particularly where governance issues have implications for athletes, selection processes and the continuity of sporting activities.
Authors: Manisha Singh and Kratika Patel