India, Aug. 14 -- The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) on Thursday flagged the implications of the Sports Ministry's decision to suspend the national body for the sport, stressing that its autonomy under the IOC's Olympic Charter must be respected and its governance kept free from third-party interference.

It also urged the Ministry to keep its August 12 order in abeyance and reconsider the matter afresh.

The ministry on Wednesday withdrew recognition of the TTFI and asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad hoc committee to run the sport, citing governance lapses.

The ministry said the TTFI's failure to hold elections on time was among the reasons for the suspension, following an "unsatisfactory response" to a sh...