Para Asian Games 2026: Karnataka High Court Directs Reconsideration Of Women's Doubles Table Tennis Selection

The Karnataka High Court has directed the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI)  to reconsider the team selection process for the women's doubles events in table tennis for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games after finding the selection method “ex-facie contrary" to well known norms of selection for double events.

The Asian Para Games are set to take place between October 18 -24, 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. 

Justice C.M. Poonacha was hearing a writ petition filed by Dr. Rajalakshmi Shankar Janardhana Murthy, a para-Table Tennis athlete, who had sought directions for her name to be considered for selection in the upcoming Asian Para Games. Murthy holds the eleventh position in Asia in Women's Singles Class 2, as of July 21, 2026, while in the doubles event, she, along with her partner Sonalben Patel, falls within the top eight among Asian countries in international ranking.

"This Court, in the present writ petition, has not adjudicated the aspect as to the process and finalization of selection that is to be carried out amongst the respondents inter se. In view of the aforementioned, the present writ petition is disposed of by directing the concerned respondents to re-consider the team selection for the doubles events for the women's table tennis events the upcoming PAG, 2026 scheduled to be held from 18th to 24th October, 2026".

The High Court found that the PCI had not selected women players for the table tennis doubles event. Instead, it selected six athletes for singles events and allowed them to choose their doubles partners among themselves. Such a method, the Court said, was contrary to selection norms.

“It is clear from the aforementioned that PCI has only selected 6 women's table tennis players for participation in the games for the single events. Further, the PCI has placed on record that the said 6 selected athletes would then choose their respective partners for participation in the women's doubles events,” the Court observed.

It added, “The said manner of selection for doubles events is ex-facie contrary to well known norms of selection for double events, inasmuch as participation in a doubles event is, under normal circumstances, a pair of players who are accustomed to playing together having regard to various factors, which aspects have not been taken into consideration by the PCI.”

Noting that the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in its affidavit, admitted that Murthy and her doubles partner meet the eligibility criteria, Justice Poonacha said, “The manner in which the selection criteria has been made by the PCI would ex facie demonstrate that the selection criteria for doubles events for women's table tennis for the Para Asian Teams 2026 has not been done in a proper manner.”

The Court also took note of the petitioner's submission that unlike the women's doubles event, athletes for the men's doubles table tennis events had already been selected by the authority.

Accordingly, the Court directed the respondent authorities to reconsider the team selection for the doubles events for the women's table tennis events at the upcoming Asian Para Games.

"Needful to be done by the concerned respondents, by also taking into consideration as to whether the petitioners would be entitled for selection for the women's doubles table tennis events, as expeditiously as possible, in any event not later than one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Having regard to the last date for participation of the events, an endeavour would be made to recommend the names of athletes for participation in the PAG, 2026 for the women's doubles table tennis events," it added. 

CASE: DR RAJALAKSHMI SHANKAR VS. THE SECRETARY, REP BY UNION OF INDIA, THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS & OTHERS

WRIT PETITION NO. 26896 OF 2026 (GM-RES)

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