A power struggle in the Table Tennis Federation of India has escalated, with rival factions holding separate meetings to challenge each other's authority. The president's group suspended the secretary-general, while the opposing side deemed the move unconstitutional. This conflict now threatens the upcoming national championships.
The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) is gripped by an internal power struggle that has led to conflicting decisions on leadership and events. On January 28, 2026, TTFI president Meghna Ahlawat convened an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in New Delhi. During this meeting, the attendees suspended secretary-general Kamlesh Mehta with immediate effect and transferred his responsibilities to Yatin Tipnis, who had previously lost an election to Mehta.
This action followed a Special General Meeting (SGM) held by the Mehta-led faction in Mumbai on January 17, chaired by senior vice-president Padmaja Menon. The SGM declared the AGM notice issued by Ahlawat on January 6 as unconstitutional and invalid, while affirming its own legitimacy as it was requisitioned by more than one-third of members.
Ahlawat's notice cited Mehta's failure to respond to requests for convening meetings despite prior communications, including an email from Mehta in November urging an early AGM. Mehta, an eight-time national champion and Arjuna Awardee, expressed surprise at the allegations. "I have not received any formal communication from either the president or anyone else at the TTFI so far," he told The Hindu. He added that her claims were shocking given his earlier unanswered email.
Ahlawat did not respond to queries, but sources close to her confirmed that the AGM nullified all decisions from the January 17 SGM. The dispute has created uncertainty around the Senior National Championship scheduled for March in Indore, which was finalized at the SGM. With both sides questioning legitimacy, the future of Indian table tennis administration remains in flux.
