Deepak Punia's move to a higher weight category proved successful as he secured a spot in the Indian team for the Asian Games in the 97kg division. Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal retained their places in the men's freestyle squad.
India's race walk coach Ronald Weigel has urged national selectors to consider the extremely humid conditions during the National Inter-State Championships when picking the team for the upcoming Asian Games. He highlighted how tough weather significantly slows down endurance athletes and suggested holding future selection events in more favourable conditions like Bengaluru.
Olympian dressage rider Anush Agarwalla and the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) ad-hoc panel are engaged in a heated dispute over the selection process for the upcoming Asian Games. Agarwalla, a gold medallist and Paris Olympics representative, alleges a lack of transparency after being named a reserve member, while the EFI defends its process as compliant with selection criteria.
Star Indian table tennis player Manika Batra has accused the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) of violating its own Constitution during the selection of the Asian Games squad, where she was named a reserve. Batra claims a nine-member committee, exceeding the constitutional limit, finalised the team, leading to her "mental exhaustion" from the ongoing fight.
The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict on petitions filed by riders Anush Agarwalla and Sudipti Hajela, who challenged their exclusion from India's dressage team for the upcoming Asian Games. The athletes appealed a single judge's earlier decision that upheld the Equestrian Federation of India's selection process. The court heard arguments from all parties, including the EFI, which maintained that the best riders were selected and opposed external interference.
The Delhi High Court has upheld the Equestrian Federation of India's (EFI) selection process for the Asian Games dressage team, dismissing petitions from riders Anush Agarwalla and Sudipti Hajela. The court found no arbitrariness or procedural impropriety, reinforcing the principle that judicial interference in expert selection bodies is limited. Challenges regarding Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs), criteria interpretation, and bias were all rejected.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara has provided international-standard pole vaulting equipment and financial aid to Sindhushree Ganesh, who will represent India at the Asian Games. Sindhushree, from an underprivileged background, has overcome challenges to achieve national recognition in pole vault, fulfilling her late father's dream.
Former World Championships silver medallist Deepak Punia secured his place in the Indian team for the Asian Games after winning the 97kg freestyle competition at the selection trials. Other winners included Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal.
Vinesh Phogat's return to competitive wrestling ended in a semi-final loss at the Asian Games selection trials, dashing her hopes of re-entering the national team after the 2024 Paris Olympics trauma.
The Indian Golf Union has announced a six-member team for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, featuring experienced players like Aditi Ashok and Yuvraj Sandhu, with high hopes for podium finishes given India's strong history in the sport at the Games.
All Indian track and field athletes selected for the Asian Games will compete in the final leg of the Indian Athletics Series on September 10. The schedule for other legs of the series has also been revised, while a group of athletes has departed for Europe to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has appealed to the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order that permits wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026.
The seventh edition of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) tournament is set to begin in Panaji, featuring top Indian and international players. Indian paddlers like Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, and Diya Chitale view the tournament as crucial preparation for the upcoming Asian Games, aiming to build momentum and gain competitive experience. The league also introduces an AI-powered review system.
Top trap shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu's exclusion from the Indian shotgun contingent for the Asian Games has sparked controversy, despite his international achievements. The NRAI defends its selection policy, while Sandhu urges a review.
The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has clarified that Manika Batra's exclusion from India's Asian Games squad was due to strict adherence to existing selection criteria. Despite her name being considered, Batra did not meet the requirements, primarily lacking a national ranking and not being in the top 50 of international rankings at the time of selection. The decision was a collective one by the selection committee, based on a comprehensive assessment.
Vinesh Phogat's return to competitive wrestling ended in disappointment as she lost in the Asian Games selection trials, highlighting the challenges she faces in her comeback journey after the Paris Olympics trauma.
Despite not winning a medal at the recently-concluded Asian Senior Fencing Championships, India's men's foil team secured direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, marking a significant step forward for the sport in the country. The event, hosted in India for the first time, provided valuable experience and highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian fencers against top Asian nations.
India has announced its 20-member women's hockey squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Led by Salima Tete, the team aims to secure a gold medal, which would qualify them for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The squad features a mix of experienced players and promising juniors, with minor changes from the recent FIH Nations Cup-winning team.
Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne indicated that the Indian women's hockey team will likely use the upcoming World Cup as preparation for the more crucial Asian Games, which serves as a direct qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The team plans to field a consistent core group for both events, scheduled just 20 days apart. Dutch dragflick specialist Taeke Taekema will join the team for both tournaments, and skipper Salima Tete praised Deepika's strong return from injury, highlighting her importance as a dragflicker.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided to allow Vinesh Phogat to compete in the Asian Games selection trials only in the 50kg category, leading to a potential flashpoint. This decision follows a period of uncertainty regarding her preferred weight division and has sparked controversy within the wrestling community.
The Sports Ministry, led by Mansukh Mandaviya, has announced stringent selection criteria for the upcoming Asian Games, capping the contingent at 600 athletes. The policy prioritises medal prospects, stating that the Games are not for "exposure tours" or securing jobs. This includes a "realistic chance of winning a medal" and being in the top six continental rankings. The ministry will scrutinise recommendations from National Sports Federations, with specific cases like equestrian Anush Agarwalla and table tennis player Manika Batra highlighting the new approach.
National record holder Jyothi Yarraji made a remarkable return to competition after a year-long injury lay-off, breaching the Asian Games qualifying standard in the 100m hurdles at the National Inter-State Championships. She achieved the feat with a time of 13.14 seconds, well within the AFI's requirement.
Vinesh Phogat's hopes of competing in the Asian Games were dashed after a defeat in the selection trials. Despite a strong start to the trials, Phogat lost to Meenakshi Goyat, ending her chances of securing a spot at the prestigious event.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has appealed to the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order that permitted wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games.
India's top 400m runners, including Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi and Jay Kumar, view the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as a more challenging competition than the Asian Games. They believe the higher standard of competition, especially from Australia and England, will serve as an ideal proving ground to improve their performance and achieve personal bests ahead of the continental showpiece.
India's top 400m runners, including Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi and Jay Kumar, view the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as a more challenging competition than the Asian Games. They believe the higher standard of competition, especially from Australia and England, will serve as an ideal proving ground to improve their performance and achieve personal bests ahead of the continental showpiece.
India's prominent table tennis player, Manika Batra, has been excluded from the national squad for the upcoming Asian Games due to her absence from domestic events, which impacted her national ranking. The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) cited adherence to its selection criteria, which prioritises both national and world rankings.
Vinesh Phogat's return to competitive wrestling ended in disappointment at the Asian Games selection trials, losing to Meenakshi Goyat in the 53kg semifinals after a controversial and emotionally charged day.
Pakistan's top table tennis players are dismayed after the national federation asked them to arrange their own funds for participating in the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, citing a lack of grants from the Pakistan Sports Board.
A national high-performance shooting camp has commenced in New Delhi, bringing together 35 Indian athletes for intensive training. The camp is crucial preparation for the upcoming ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, and the Asian Games in Japan, featuring top talent and international coaching expertise.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is conducting selection trials in Dehradun from June 6-10 for rifle and pistol shooters. These trials are crucial for selecting the Indian squad for the upcoming ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou and the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, with top shooters vying for limited spots.
India has announced its 20-member women's hockey squad, led by Salima Tete, for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. The team aims to secure a gold medal to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with minor changes to the strike force from the FIH Nations Cup winning side.
Four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari, along with Atanu Das and Abhishek Verma, failed to secure a spot in India's archery squad for the Asian Games in Japan after a selection trial. Teenagers Kirti Sharma and Kumkum Mohod emerged as notable gainers in the women's recurve section.
Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has threatened legal action against the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) if she is not provided a 'factual explanation' for her omission from the Asian Games squad.
Twenty-two rowers have been inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Group to prepare for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The selection, made by the Mission Olympic Cell, includes prominent names like Balraj Panwar and Arvind Singh.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya expressed confidence in India's performance at the upcoming Asian Games, assuring a fair and transparent selection process. He also highlighted the importance of the Khelo India Tribal Games in identifying and promoting sporting talent from tribal communities.
Vinesh Phogat was knocked out of the Asian Games selection trials in Delhi on Saturday after losing to Meenakshi Goyat 4-6 in a tense semi-final bout of the women's 53kg event.
Indian rowers Balraj Panwar and Babu Lal Yadav are confident of winning gold medals at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, aiming to improve upon their previous performances and end India's wait for a rowing gold at the event.
India's premier long-distance runner, Gulveer Singh, is confident of improving his bronze medal performance from the 2022 Asian Games in the upcoming edition. Holding national records in multiple events, Singh is preparing for both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, focusing on strategic training under his US-based coach and utilising advanced sportswear technology.
Vinesh Phogat overcame a tough challenge to reach the semifinals of the Asian Games trials, while Antim Panghal also progressed.
