Sports Ministry refuses to relax Asian Games selection rules as 492-athlete squad approved
The Sports Ministry has said athletes who do not meet the selection benchmarks announced last year will not be added to India’s Asian Games team, even amid pressure from supporters, after approving a 492-strong contingent for the September 19 to October 4 Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The ministry’s selection policy, unveiled in 2025, restricts multi-sport event places to competitors with a “realistic chance of winning a medal,” requires selection trials to be videographed and overseen by independent observers, and limits eligibility to those ranked in the top six on the continent. Sports Minister Manuskh Mandaviya had also asserted a few weeks ago that events like the Asian Games must not be seen as exposure trips by athletes and only the best should be heading to Japan in pursuit of medals.
The approved Indian delegation comprises 492 athletes, with athletics accounting for 73 names on the list. The ministry emphasised that any future additions will not contravene the criteria set last year.
Addressing complaints from families of omitted athletes, a sports ministry source said: "A lot of pressure was there (on us). Some parents came and said that my child has not been selected. We told them if your child merits selection (fulfils the selection criteria), there is no way that he or she will not be selected." "Let's take an example. If somebody has to run 10 seconds to be a contender for medal in the 100m event, should we send an athlete who runs 15 seconds? We have set the criteria that if an athlete is in the top six in Asia, we will select him or her, otherwise not. We have followed that."
The top-six continental cutoff has already excluded some teams and players; the Indian football team was ruled out early because of its falling rankings. The last few days have seen controversy in tennis after five players named by the All India Tennis Association were omitted from the final squad. Sumit Nagal is the lone singles player selected, while recommended women players, including India number one Sahaja Yamalapalli (344 in WTA rankings), were left out, prompting criticism from the AITA and former player Rohan Bopanna.
Finalising multi-sport event squads has frequently prompted legal challenges from omitted athletes, the ministry noted. Recently, equestrian Anush Agarwalla had approached the Delhi High Court against his non-selection but his appeal was eventually dismissed by the Supreme Court.
"The idea, from the very beginning, was to send a lean but effective contingent. And the criteria was announced a year ago, everyone had the time to figure it out and fit in," the source said, and the ministry added that a few more additions could be made but approval for them is being awaited from the Olympic Council of Asia.