India’s Asian Games squad: No room for athletes outside selection criteria

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry has ruled out the possibility of athletes, who do not meet the Asian Games selection criteria announced a year ago, finding a place in India's Japan-bound contingent despite the "pressure being created" by their supporters.

The Sports Ministry has approved a 492-strong contingent of athletes for the September 19 to October 4 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Athletics forms the biggest chunk of 73 names in the list.

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A few more additions could be made and approval for them is being awaited from the Olympic Council of Asia. However, the ministry made it clear that those additions will not be at the expense of flouting the selection criteria that was announced in September last year.

"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," a sports ministry source said.

"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."

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In its selection criteria unveiled in 2025, the ministry had made it clear that only those with "realistic chance of winning a medal" would be considered for multi-sport events, including the Asian Games, through selection trials that would be videographed and overseen by independent observers.

In addition, it had also stated that only the top six in continental rankings would be eligible. Because of this cut-off, the Indian football team was among the earliest to be ruled out of the Asiad due to its plummeting rankings.

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.

Finalising the Indian contingent for multi-sport events has never been an easy task. Omitted athletes have even taken the legal route to challenge their non-inclusion.

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 omission of five players from the squad originally picked by the All India Tennis Association has kicked up another storm in the last couple of days.

Sumit Nagal is the lone singles players in the side and the names of recommended women players, including India number one Sahaja Yamalapalli (344 in WTA rankings), have been omitted.

The decision has been heavily criticised by the AITA and some former players like Rohan Bopanna.

"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.