/>

Manika Batra splits with long-time coach Sandeep Gupta

Gupta had been the only coach for the double Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who took to the sport at the age of eight.

Published : Mar 26, 2019 16:44 IST , New Delhi

Manika Batra and coach Sandeep Gupta with the four medals she won at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Manika Batra and coach Sandeep Gupta with the four medals she won at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
lightbox-info

Manika Batra and coach Sandeep Gupta with the four medals she won at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Double 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manika Batra has split with her long-time coach Sandeep Gupta.

India's top ranked female table tennis player, who also won the doubles silver with Mouma Das and mixed doubles bronze medal with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran at the Gold Coast CWG, has decided to train with Pune-based Sanmay Paranjpe, it has been learnt.

Also in 2018, Batra won a historic mixed doubles bronze medal, pairing with A. Sharath Kamal, at the Asian Games. She received the Arjuna Award and also became the first Indian to be given the International Table Tennis Federation's Breakthrough Star Award.

While Batra could not be contacted despite repeated attempts, Gupta confirmed the development.

"She told me she wanted to move on and train with a different coach. I wished the very best, as always," he said.

Gupta had been the only coach for Batra, who took to the sport at the age of eight. The last time Batra, who turns 24 in June, trained under Gupta was at the Hungarian Open in Budapest in the third week of January. Earlier that month, her performance at the national championships had been below expectations.

Gupta declined to comment on the subject.

Table Tennis Federation of India secretary M. P. Singh underplayed the split. "I don't want to comment on something personal between the coach and his trainee. The federation has nothing to do with it. We wish them well," he said.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment