41 paddlers protest alleged victimisation at Kollam state-ranking meet; KTTA denies charges

On August 11, 2026, 41 paddlers, including several State champions, signed a protest accusing the Kerala Table Tennis Association (KTTA) of systematic victimisation at the PAX Academy State-ranking tournament held at Izyan Sports City in Kollam. The players said last-minute fixture changes departed from the draw published on the Zeetius website and forced many top-ranked athletes and clubmates to meet in opening rounds.

The protesters identified those who had competed in tournaments run by the Table Tennis Association of Kerala (TTAK) up to January as the most affected group. The KTTA resumed governance after its affiliation was restored by a Supreme Court Arbitration in October 2025. Players also recalled repeated fixture changes at the previous ranking event in Ernakulam, saying their complaints there were ignored. Zeetius was described by the players as the KTTA’s official digital platform.

The letter raised additional concerns beyond the draw, alleging the use of tables not approved by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and calling for transparency in how prize money was distributed. The signatories also contended that KTTA loyalists had been given easier draws, intensifying their objections to the organisation of the Kollam event.

In response, the KTTA denied any tampering with the final draw that was published on August 8 and said the earlier draw visible on the Zeetius website was unauthorised. The association stated it had distributed 43% of the entry fee as total prize money for the tournament and rejected claims that a 40% payout per event had been promised.

The KTTA defended its use of unapproved tables by citing a high number of entries and asserting that no rule prevented their deployment under those circumstances. It also blamed confusion over draws on clubs that failed to register their players with the KTTA and noted that rankings and seedings in the Kollam tournament were assigned to players who had participated in TTAK-run events.

The protesting paddlers said they remain dissatisfied with the KTTA’s reply and plan to escalate the matter to the Sports Minister, the Kerala State Sports Council and the TTFI.