India will also field full-strength men’s and women’s kabaddi teams, with 12 players each, as they look to defend the two gold medals won at the previous Asian Games.
Published: August 23, 2026, 11:10 AM IST
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India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh celebrate after winning the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the men’s javelin throw event at the Commonwealth Games 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday, July 31, 2026(Photo: IANS/Biplab Banerjee)
The Sports Ministry on Saturday approved a 492-member Indian athletes’ contingent for the Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4The squad has 265 men and 227 women, with athletics making up the biggest group with 73 athletes.
The list of support staff is yet to be announcedA source told PTI that the list is expected within a week and is being reviewed to ensure all teams have enough sports science experts, including physiotherapists and medical staff.
The athletes’ list is largely based on the recommendations made by the Indian Olympic AssociationHowever, some names have been removed because of doping violations, while a few additions are still waiting for clearance from the Olympic Council of Asia.
Athletics has 35 men and 38 womenTwo-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra will lead the squad, which also includes long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, distance runner Gulveer Singh, decathlete Tejaswin Shankar and 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji.
The 30-member shooting squad has 15 men and 15 womenDouble Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker is among the leading names, along with Suruchi Singh, Elavenil Valarivan and Esha Singh.
The weightlifting squad has been reduced to five athletes because of doping violations involving some selected liftersOlympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Gyaneshwari Devi are the main names in the women’s teamRishikanta Singh, who also won silver at the Commonwealth Games, is the only male lifter.
Badminton has a 20-member squad featuring PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Ayush ShettyWorld Championships bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have also been selected, along with men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
The boxing team has 11 membersRecent Commonwealth Games silver medallists Lovlina Borgohain, Narender Berwal and Jadumani Singh are part of the squad.
India will send 22 rowers to Japan, while 15 men have been selected for the esports competitionThe country will field only the women’s team in rugby, with 13 players, while a 12-member men’s team will compete in volleyball.
Sepak Takraw has 21 athletes in the approved listThe sport combines elements of volleyball, football and gymnastics and is popular in Southeast Asia.
Cricket will have 30 players across the men’s and women’s teamsIndia will also field full-strength men’s and women’s kabaddi teams, with 12 players each, as they look to defend the two gold medals won at the previous Asian Games.
Tennis has a seven-member squad, with Sumit Nagal the only singles playerWrestling has 16 athletes, including world championships bronze medallist Antim Panghal in the 53kg category and Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat in the 57kg category.
