The Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya has undergone a significant expansion, with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announcing the addition of 11 new athletes. This update brings the total size of the Indian delegation to 768 members, comprising 503 athletes—269 men and 234 women—alongside 246 team officials and 19 contingent staff members set to compete across 36 disciplines.
The most notable change within the athletics squad involves the men's javelin throw event. Commonwealth Games bronze medallist
Squad Updates and New Sporting Disciplines
The Ministry’s latest announcement includes the introduction of athletes in sports making their debut at the Asian Games. Surfing will feature four Indian representatives: Kishore Kumar, Sivaraj, Kamali, and Sugar Shanti. Additionally, Varun Sanyal has been named to compete in mixed martial arts, which is also appearing on the Games program for the first time.
Further additions to the athletics roster include Praveen Kumar, Harita Bhadra, Kiran Pahal, Asha Ilango, Sindhushree Ganesha, and Sanya Yadav. However, the squad has also seen notable omissions. Tejas Shirse, originally selected for the 110m hurdles, has been removed from the team following the discovery of two stress fractures in his left foot sustained during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Furthermore, distance runner Abhishek Pal has been dropped from the contingent after receiving a notice from the National Anti-Doping Agency regarding an alleged anti-doping rule violation.
Coaching Staff and Returning Champions
The Athletics Federation of India has confirmed that the 77-member athletics squad will feature 15 returning champions and medallists from previous Asian Games. Among those looking to defend their titles from the 2023 Hangzhou Games are Avinash Sable, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Parul Chaudhary, and Annu Rani.
In the cricket discipline, the coaching structures have been finalized. The men’s team will be led by the head of the Centre of Excellence, supported by Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh. The women’s team will be spearheaded by Amol Muzumdar, who will be assisted by bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi and fielding coach Munish Bali. These appointments solidify the leadership group as India prepares for the continental competition in Aichi-Nagoya.
