Sports Ministry sets strict benchmarks for 2026 Asian Games selection

In a bid to prioritise excellence over mere participation, the Sports Ministry has laid down stringent selection criteria for India’s entry into the 2026 Asian Games and other multi-sport events. The new rules ensure that only athletes and teams with genuine medal potential make the cut.

According to the ministry’s release, the guidelines lay down benchmarks for both measurable and non-measurable events. These will act as the framework for participation in multi-sport competitions such as the Asian Games, Para Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Indoor Games, Asian Beach Games, Youth Olympics, Asian Youth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.

Advertisement

Olympics and other international events where participation depends on qualification standards fixed by global federations will not fall under these criteria.

As per the selection criteria for measurable individual sports and events, athletes must match or exceed the 6th-place performance from the previous Asian Games at a recognised international competition held within 12 months of the upcoming Asian Games. If the sport or event was not part of the last Asian Games, the benchmark will instead be taken from the Senior Asian Championships held in the same 12-month period.

For non-measurable individual sports and events, athletes will be eligible if they either secured a 6th place or better finish at the most recent Senior Asian Championships within the last 12 months or are ranked among the top six Asian nations in world rankings. In cases where no Asian Championships have been held and rankings are not published, the athlete must finish in the top six among Asian nations in an equivalent international event.

For team sports like hockey, kabaddi or relay events, a team will qualify if it achieved a top-8 finish at the last Senior Asian Championships held within the past 12 months or is ranked among the top 8 Asian nations in international rankings. Where neither rankings nor championships are available, results from equivalent international competitions will be considered.

“The criteria has a relaxation clause authorising the Ministry to take appropriate decision if participation of individuals and teams in relaxation of the prescribed criteria is recommended with justifiable reasons, based on the opinion of experts in specific sports or Sports Authority of India (SAI). It provides that the Ministry may not approve the names recommended by National Sports Federations if the aim is just for participation and not aiming for excellence,” a circular from the ministry stated.

It further added, “The Ministry may not approve participation if experts from specific sports disciplines and the SAI find that the Asian Championships for a sport are being held at irregular intervals to circumvent rules and help athletes meet eligibility criteria, particularly if the competition standard is low or if top nations expected to participate in the forthcoming Asian Games were absent from the said competition.”

The ministry also made it clear that, “Selection criteria further provides that only sportspersons, coaches and support staff cleared at cost to the government will be part of the Indian contingent, and no additional sportspersons, coaches or support staff will be included even at no cost to the government.”

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}