TTFI suspends Soumyajit Ghosh, set to miss Commonwealth Games

Table Tennis player and Olympian Soumyajit Ghosh has been suspended by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) on Friday, following rape allegations by an 18-year-old in Kolkata.

"The Executive Board (EB) of the Table Tennis Federation of India has placed Soumyajit Ghosh under provisional suspension, pending a final outcome of the police investigation and court verdict, if any, on the alleged rape charges against him by a teenager," the TTFI said.

TTFI further clarified that the youngest Indian Table Tennis champion will not be able to play any national or international tournament during the suspension period.

The decision by TTFI also crushed Ghosh’s plans of being a part of Indian team for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Indian table tennis team is set to leave for CWG on April 30.

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Earlier, ex-girlfriend of the Arjuna Awardee filed an FIR at Barasat Women Police Station, alleging Ghosh of rape on the pretext of marriage.

"We were in a relationship since last three years, during which he raped me. He also promised to marry me, but refused later," the girl said.

Soumyajit Ghosh had previously represented India in 2012 and 2016 Olympic.

He became the youngest national champion at the age of 19 after defeating Sharath Kamal at National Table Tennis Championships.