India's Asian Games athletics team has been reduced from 77 to 74 members, with javelin thrower Annu Rani, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan, and sprinter Nithya Gandhe dropped due to performance and medical reasons after a confirmatory trial.
India's Asian Games athletics team has been trimmed to 74 members, with prominent athletes like javelin thrower Annu Rani, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan, and sprinter Nithya Gandhe dropped due to performance or medical reasons. The decision followed a confirmatory event, while some injured national record holders were cleared to participate.
The Indian athletics team for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan has undergone significant changes. Commonwealth Games medallist Yashvir Singh replaces an injured Neeraj Chopra, while long-distance runner Abhishek Pal has been dropped due to an alleged doping offence. Tejas Shirse is also out due to injury. The final team comprises 77 members, with six new additions. The Athletics Federation of India is aiming for 25-30 medals.
A small contingent of the 74-member Indian athletics team is still awaiting visa clearance for Japan, potentially impacting their acclimatisation camp ahead of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. AFI officials are working to resolve the issue, which stems from VFS requirements regarding application locations.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced a 77-member squad, comprising 34 men and 43 women, to represent India at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary leading the women's contingent.
Top Indian athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Neeru Dhanda, and Harmanpreet Singh have been nominated by their respective National Sports Federations to the electoral college for the Indian Olympic Association's Athletes Commission polls on November 3. The article details the nomination process, eligibility criteria, and the composition of the new Athletes Commission, noting the absence of some federations and the exclusion of outgoing members like Mary Kom.
Tamil Nadu's Neil Samraj R shattered the men's U18 200m national record at the National Junior Athletics Championships in Chennai on Tuesday, clocking 21.03 seconds. He also secured gold in the 100m with another national record and was named the best athlete in his category. The state of Tamil Nadu emerged as the overall team champions, with Bhavana G also setting a new meet record in the U20 women's 200m.
India is sending a 17-member contingent, led by table tennis player Syndrela Das and swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu, to the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. The team will compete in 11 sports, with athletes like Sarthak Arya viewing the event as a crucial stepping stone for future Olympic aspirations. IOA president P T Usha highlighted the Games' importance for developing future Indian champions.
The 65th National Open Athletics Championships begins on Thursday in New Delhi, featuring hammer thrower Nirbhay Choudhary aiming to improve his national record and sprinter Manikanta Hoblidhar making a comeback from injury. Other prominent athletes like race walker Servin Sebastian, Olympians Paramjeet Singh Bisht and Suraj Panwar, and long-distance runner Abhishek Pal are also set to compete, alongside several Asian Games medallists.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. Both athletes have significant achievements, with Bhaker making history at the Paris Olympics and Toor winning gold in previous Asian Games editions. Their selection highlights the importance of shooting and athletics to India's medal tally.
Indian athletes secured five medals, including two silvers, at the ongoing Asian Games in Nagoya. Long jumper Ancy Sojan and high jumper Sarvesh Kushare each won silver, while decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, 3000m steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary, and 200m runner Harita Bhadra clinched bronze medals, contributing to India's growing tally.
India's Asian Para Games campaign saw a remarkable performance, particularly in athletics, securing five gold medals on Tuesday. Nishad Kumar and Deepthi Jeevanji were standout performers, both setting new Games records and clinching multiple golds. The nation's overall medal tally reached 35 by the end of day two, with significant contributions from shooting, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, archery, and badminton, promising further success.
The Sports Ministry has approved the late inclusion of two Boccia athletes, Sachin Chamaria and Anjali Devi, into India's contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Para Asian Games, bringing the total athlete count to 168. The overall contingent, including 113 officials, now stands at 281. This year's team is smaller than the previous Games due to the absence of certain disciplines and strict quota restrictions, particularly in para athletics. India aims to build on its record-breaking 108-medal haul from the last edition.
The Indian athletics team will undergo an acclimatisation camp at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo before the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. This follows an MoU between SAI and the University. Athletes are also returning from Czech Republic for a training stint and an event in Bhubaneswar, though Neeraj Chopra will not participate. The Athletics Federation of India has already submitted a list of over 72 athletes for the Games to the Indian Olympic Association.
India's track and field contingent delivered a stellar performance at the Asian Para Games, securing 22 medals, including five gold, and propelling the nation to fifth in the overall standings. Sprinter Simran, high-jumper Praveen Kumar, and shot-putter Sachin Khilari notably set new Games records, contributing significantly to India's medal tally across various para-sports.
The Indian athletics team for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan has undergone significant changes, with Commonwealth Games medallist Yashvir Singh replacing an injured Neeraj Chopra.
India's Para Asian Games contingent received a formal send-off in New Delhi, with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launching the new Team India jersey. Prominent para-athletes, including flag bearer Pramod Bhagat, attended the ceremony. Mandaviya encouraged the athletes to win medals, assuring them of government support. Head coach Satyanarayana expressed confidence in medal prospects despite a reduced quota, while athletes like Suvarna Raj and Pramod Bhagat voiced their determination to secure medals.
Indian Army athletes achieved their best-ever medal haul at the recently concluded Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, securing 20 medals, including six gold, eight silver, and six bronze. This significant contribution accounted for nearly one-fourth of India's total 85 medals. Standout performers included Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda in trap shooting and Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh in distance running, who also set a national record. The Army's increased representation and performance, particularly from women athletes, highlight the robust sporting ecosystem within the Indian Army.
Promising sprinters Abinaya Rajarajan and Neil Samraj set new national records in the Under-20 women's 100m and Under-18 men's 100m respectively at the National Junior Athletics Championships in Chennai. Punjab's Amanat Kamboj also secured a gold in the U20 discus throw with a meet record.
India commenced its Asian Para Games campaign with a spectacular performance, securing 11 medals, including four gold, across various sports on Monday. Notable victories came from shooter Mona Agarwal, long jumper Nishad Kumar, middle-distance runner Soumya, and javelin thrower Rinku, with archer Sheetal Devi also setting world records. The medal haul places India fourth in the overall standings.
Indian track and field athletes at the Asian Games are facing a growing injury crisis, with Yashas Palaksha, Jyothi Yarraji, and Praveen Chithravel all pulling out or struggling due to fitness issues.
Five Indian track and field athletes, including pole vaulter Sindhushree Ganesh and triple jumper Asha Ilango, who faced visa delays, have now received their travel documents and are set to join the Asian Games contingent in Japan. They will participate in an acclimatisation camp before the athletics competition begins.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Indian athletes who secured medals at the Asian Games. He specifically lauded Neeru Dhanda for her historic individual trap gold, the women's trap team for their silver, and the women's 4x400m relay squad for their gold-winning performance, highlighting their precision, speed, and teamwork.
India's athletics campaign at the Asian Games is set to begin, with star shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor aiming for a historic third consecutive gold. Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar and long-distance runner Gulveer Singh are also looking to upgrade their previous medals. Despite Neeraj Chopra's absence, the 75-member Indian team targets 25-30 medals across various events, including steeplechase, javelin, and high jump, facing strong competition from other Asian athletes.
President Droupadi Murmu extended her congratulations to Indian athletes, including Mirabai Chanu, for their impressive medal-winning performances on Day 4 of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. She highlighted significant achievements such as Chanu's silver in weightlifting, ending a 28-year drought, and historic bronze medals in shooting and soft tennis.
President Droupadi Murmu extended her congratulations to Indian athletes who won medals on Day 9 of the Asian Games. She specifically lauded the women's 4x400m relay team for their historic gold, shooter Neeru Dhanda for India's first individual gold and a new Asian record, and other medalists in shooting, high jump, relays, distance running, and boxing, highlighting their achievements as a source of national pride and inspiration.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani are scheduled to visit the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games athletes' village on September 20. This visit follows the opening ceremony and will include a tour of the Garden Pier section and interaction with athletes. The Games feature a unique accommodation setup, utilising a cruise liner, temporary villas, and hotels instead of a traditional village. Various logistical and ceremonial details, including team welcome ceremonies and other official meetings, were also discussed.
Soft tennis player Jay Meena, marathon runner Sawan Barwal, and air pistol shooter Kamaljeet share their personal journeys and challenges leading up to their medal wins at the Asian Games. Meena recounts how school rustication led him to soft tennis and his struggle with quarterfinal defeats. Barwal discusses the mental pressure of switching to marathon running, while Kamaljeet reflects on injury setbacks and the pressure of securing India's first shooting gold at the Games.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are grappling with significant accommodation issues, including male and female athletes being allocated shared rooms and long waiting times for credential activation, forcing even the host Japan team to seek alternative arrangements.
Praveen Kumar secured a gold medal with a Games record in the men's high jump T44/64 at the Asian Para Games, while Banti added a silver.
Indian athletes at the Asian Games in Nagoya are facing significant accommodation challenges, including cramped rooms on a cruise ship and long waits for check-in. The host nation's athletes are also affected, with complaints about shared rooms and general mismanagement. Organisers have opted against a traditional Athletes Village, leading to athletes travelling long distances for training, further exacerbating the logistical issues ahead of the mega-event.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) Bengaluru has introduced Japanese cuisine into its athletes' diet plan to help them adapt to food culture ahead of the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This initiative aims to prevent performance issues caused by dietary struggles, as observed in past international events, and involves a gradual introduction of dishes and strict adherence to nutritional and safety standards.
India's para sports athletes scripted history at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as they equalled the haul of all the previous editions put together, winning seven medals, including one gold and silver on Saturday.
India's Asian Games contingent faces accommodation issues at Costa Serena, as athletes report cramped rooms and long delays amid organisational chaos.
India's athletics campaign at the Asian Games started strongly with the mixed 4x400m relay team securing a silver medal, their third consecutive Asian Games medal in the event. Additionally, Seema won a surprise bronze in the women's 10,000m race, marking India's first medal in athletics at the Games. Other Indian athletes also progressed to semifinals in various events.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated India's Asian Games medallists, praising their outstanding performances and specifically highlighting the women's hockey team's gold medal win after over four decades. India secured a strong position in the medals tally with a six-gold haul on the penultimate day, with Modi acknowledging individual achievements in wrestling, boxing, archery, sepaktakraw, and sailing.
Organisers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have defended their decision to forgo an Athletes' Village, opting instead for a mix of hotels, container huts, and a cruise ship, despite complaints about cramped conditions and shared rooms.
Indian athletes are set for a busy day at the Asian Games on September 30, with competitions across various disciplines including archery, boxing, cycling, golf, judo, sailing, shooting, squash, tennis, and wrestling. Several medal opportunities and crucial semifinal matches await the contingent.
India's Chef de Mission for the Asian Games, Sahdev Yadav, said that he only learned after arriving in the city that organisers had removed around 30 to 35 Indian athletes from the accommodation list.
Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat has replaced shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's male flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony due to Toor's ceremonial kit not being available. Toor was unable to collect his kit in time to attend the event, leading to the last-minute change.
