Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Soumyadeep Roy Returns With India Squad For Asian Games
Soumyadeep Roy will go with India’s table tennis team to the Asian Games.
The Games will take place in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4.
Roy is one of six coaches traveling with the team.
Three players he trains are also on India’s teams.
They are Payas Jain, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Syndrela Das.
Roy last traveled with India to a major multi-sport event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
His earlier trip involved a disagreement with player Manika Batra.
The sports ministry has also suspended India’s table tennis federation because of governance and selection concerns.
The players are currently competing in Kazakhstan and will prepare for the Asian Games after returning.
Soumyadeep Roy will travel with India’s table tennis squad for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Roy is part of the six-member coaching team and works with three selected players.
Payas Jain, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Syndrela Das train at Roy’s New Town academy.
Roy’s last multi-sport event with India was the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
The sports ministry suspended the Table Tennis Federation of India over governance and selection issues last month.
- Who
- Soumyadeep Roy, India’s table tennis squad, and players including Payas Jain, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Syndrela Das.
- What
- Roy will travel as part of India’s six-member table tennis coaching team for the Asian Games.
- When
- The Asian Games are scheduled for September 19 to October 4; Roy said this will be his first multi-sport event with the team in five years.
- Where
- The Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, while the squad is currently competing in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
- Why
- Roy is traveling because he is part of the coaching team and works with players selected for India’s squads.
Roy’s Account
Critical Viewpoints
Return to the national setup
Roy’s Account
Roy said he did not know whether this was a comeback because he frequently travels with Payas Jain, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Syndrela Das for international tournaments.
Critical Viewpoints
The article notes that this is Roy’s return to traveling with India for a multi-sport event after five years, following his last such trip at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
2021 Olympic controversy
Roy’s Account
Roy is now traveling with players he coaches, and the article says the earlier controversy is in the past.
Critical Viewpoints
Manika Batra alleged that Roy asked her to fix a match before the Olympics so his protégé, Sutirtha Mukherjee, could qualify; Batra also refused to be coached by Roy during her Olympic matches.
Table tennis administration
Roy’s Account
The national squad is continuing preparations, with players using their personal coaches after returning from Kazakhstan.
Critical Viewpoints
The sports ministry suspended the Table Tennis Federation of India over governance and selection issues, which has affected members of the squad.
- Event
- Asian Games
- Host location
- Aichi-Nagoya
- Event dates
- September 19 to October 4
- Roy’s role
- Member of India’s six-member table tennis coaching team
- Players coached by Roy
- Payas Jain, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Syndrela Das
- Previous multi-sport event
- Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021
- Federation status
- The sports ministry suspended the Table Tennis Federation of India last month over governance and selection issues