"Table Tennis Federation of India Secretary General Kamlesh Mehta Suspended Immediately in AGM"

Table Teis Federation of India Suspends Secretary Amid Factional Dispute

In a recent development, the Table Teis Federation of India (TTFI) has suspended its secretary, former player Kamlesh Mehta, amidst growing tensions within the federation. The decision has thrown the already faction-ridden governing body into fresh administrative chaos.

TTFI president Meghna Ahlawat, the wife of former Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala, and secretary Mehta were representing different factions within the governing body following their election in December 2022 as part of a "compromise." The discord escalated over the scheduling of the Aual General Meeting (AGM), which eventually took place on Wednesday, coinciding with Mehta's suspension.

Yatin Tipnis, nominated by the Maharashtra State Association, has been appointed as the senior joint secretary in the TTFI AGM. Tipnis will now oversee the day-to-day operations of the federation in the absence of the suspended secretary.

Earlier this month, Mehta convened an Emergency Special General Meeting (SGM) in Mumbai, which was deemed unconstitutional and invalid by President Ahlawat in a letter dated 15 January.

Tipnis, speaking to PTI, stated, “The post of senior joint secretary was vacant, so I was nominated in the AGM. Now that the secretary’s post is suspended, I have been instructed to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the TTFI to ensure minimal impact on athletes.”

Mehta, on the other hand, claimed, “Agenda-driven politics is at play as they never wanted me as secretary in the first place.” He expressed his lack of formal communication regarding his suspension and difficulties in accessing official emails.

The Delhi High Court had previously suspended the TTFI in February 2022, citing a "sorry state of affairs" and appointed a Committee of Administrators (CoA) to manage daily operations. Fresh elections were held in December 2022, resulting in the election of Ahlawat and Mehta to their respective positions.