India Unveils 492-Athlete Squad for Asian Games: Cricket Stars and Athletics Powerhouses Lead the Charge
NEW DELHI – The Indian sports ministry has officially cleared a robust 492-athlete contingent to represent the nation at the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. With a balanced composition of 265 men and 227 women, the Indian squad is set to compete across 35 diverse disciplines in the continental multisport extravaganza, scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4.
While the inclusion of marquee names from the world of cricket has generated significant buzz, athletics remains the undisputed backbone of India’s campaign. According to the approved list, the athletics contingent is the largest, boasting 73 athletes—35 men and 38 women.
Athletics and Cricket Take Center Stage
The athletics roster is headlined by global icons, including reigning Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra. The track-and-field squad also features high-profile competitors such as long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, distance runner Gulveer Singh, sprinter Animesh Kujur, multi-event athlete Tejaswin Shankar, and hurdler Jyothi Yarraji.
Adding significant star power to the roster, the Sports Ministry has approved both men’s and women’s T20 cricket teams. The men’s 15-member squad features prominent names such as Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and promising youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Meanwhile, the women’s team will be led by stalwarts including captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh.
Broad Representation Across Disciplines
Beyond athletics and cricket, India’s participation is deep across various sports. Hockey remains a major priority with 40 athletes selected, followed by shooting with 30, kabaddi with 24, and rowing with 22. Other notable segments include:
- Badminton (20): Led by PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and the world-class doubles duo of Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
- Boxing (11): Including Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain and Narender Berwal.
- Other key entries: Sepak takraw (21), fencing (20), wrestling (16), and esports (15).
Government Support and Logistics
The Ministry has issued specific directives regarding the logistical challenges of transporting specialized equipment for the Games. In its official notification, the Ministry stated, "Expenditure on transfer of boats, equipment, or horses for sports such as rowing, yachting, and canoeing, as well as any other discipline-specific requirements, may be reimbursed to the concerned National Sports Federation (NSF) by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) after verifying the reasonability of rates."
As the nation prepares for the Asian Games, the focus now shifts to the final preparations for the athletes. While the list of accompanying support staff is yet to be finalized, the composition of the 492-member team reflects India’s growing ambitions to establish itself as a dominant force in continental sports.
