Sports Ministry Confirms Selection Criteria for Asian Games Contingent
The Sports Ministry has officially stated that athletes who do not meet the selection criteria, set out a year ago, will not be part of India’s team heading to the Asian Games in Japan, despite the push from their supporters.
A total of 492 athletes have been approved to represent India at the Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya. Athletics has the largest representation, with 73 athletes on the list.
There is a possibility for additional athletes to join the team, pending approval from the Olympic Council of Asia. However, the ministry emphasized that any additional selections will strictly adhere to the previously established criteria.
A source from the Sports Ministry shared, “We received a lot of pressure from various parties, including parents anxious about their children’s selections. We made it clear that if an athlete meets the criteria, they will be selected without question.”
To illustrate, the source explained, “If the requirement to compete for a medal in the 100m is running it in 10 seconds, sending someone who takes 15 seconds would not be right. Our criteria states that only athletes ranked in the top six in Asia will be considered. We have adhered strictly to this guideline.”
The selection criteria released in 2025 specified that only athletes with a “realistic chance of winning a medal” would be eligible for selection in multi-sport events such as the Asian Games. The selection process involves trials that are recorded and monitored by independent observers.
Additionally, only the top six athletes in the continental rankings qualify under these criteria. This also led to the exclusion of the Indian football team due to their low rankings.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has reiterated that the Asian Games should not be viewed as mere exposure opportunities; only the best athletes should represent India with the goal of winning medals.
Finalizing the contingent for such events is often challenging. In the past, some athletes have even resorted to legal action to contest their exclusion from the team. Recently, equestrian Anush Agarwalla approached the Delhi High Court over his non-selection, but his petition was ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court.
The decision to omit five players from the squad initially chosen by the All India Tennis Association has also sparked controversy. Currently, only Sumit Nagal remains as the sole singles player, with notable omissions including India’s top-ranked female player, Sahaja Yamalapalli.
This decision has received criticism from AITA and former players like Rohan Bopanna.
A ministry source concluded, “The goal has always been to send a small but strong team. The criteria were announced well in advance, giving everyone the chance to understand and meet them.”
