The next Asian Games will be held in the heart of Japan, bringing together sports and culture. It promises to be a truly exhilarating experience for athletes and spectators alike, with all the power of athleticism paired with the beauty and culture of Japan.
The Sports Ministry has laid down stringent new selection criteria for Indian athletes to participate in 2026 Asian Games, saying only those with a “real chance of winning medals” will be considered. The move, which was uploaded on the ministry’s website on Wednesday, also bars the inclusion of additional coaches and support staff in the team, a common practice at previous editions.
Athletes will be eligible to be nominated by their national federations only if they finish in the top six for individual sports and in the top eight for team events at an Asian Championships recognised by the relevant international sport federation, conducted within 12 months of the Games. The ministry has said that the new policy will help ensure that a “fair level of competition” is maintained and does not impact other events, such as Olympics and Commonwealth Games, where qualification standards are dictated by international federation rules.
Esports, which made its debut at Hangzhou 2023 as a medal sport, will feature 11 titles at Aichi-Nagoya, including PUBG, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, FIFA Online 4, League of Legends and Street Fighter V Champion Edition. A 15-member Indian esports team won two bronzes – Pavan Kampella in eFootball and S8UL in eAFC – at the Games.