New Delhi, Sep 3: India’s preparations for the upcoming Asian Games have gained further momentum with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports adding 11 more athletes to the country’s squad.
With the latest additions, India’s overall contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has increased to 768 members, including 503 athletes, 246 team officials and support staff, and 19 contingent staff. India will compete across 36 disciplines at the Games, scheduled to begin in Japan on September 19.
The newly added athletes will represent India in athletics, surfing and mixed martial arts. Surfing will make its Asian Games debut, with Kishore Kumar, Sivaraj, Kamali and Sugar Shanti named in the Indian team. Mixed martial arts will also feature for the first time at the continental event.
Six athletes have been added to the athletics squad — Praveen Kumar, Harita Bhadra, Kiran Pahal, Asha Ilango, Sindhushree Ganesha and Sanya Yadav. Varun Sanyal has been included in the mixed martial arts team.
The expanded contingent reflects India’s growing participation across different sporting disciplines and gives several athletes an opportunity to compete on one of Asia’s biggest sporting stages.
Athletics remains one of the major components of India’s campaign, with the 79-member athletics team receiving the largest support staff allocation. The squad will compete without star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who is set to miss the Games due to injury.
The cricket teams will also have a dedicated support group. V.V.S. Laxman will lead the coaching setup for the men’s side, while Amol Muzumdar will head the women’s team.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will bring together athletes from across the continent from September 19 to October 4. For India, the expanded contingent combines established names with emerging talent, setting the stage for another major challenge on the international sporting calendar.
The inclusion of surfing and mixed martial arts also adds a new dimension to India’s campaign, giving the country an opportunity to make an impression in disciplines appearing at the Asian Games for the first time.