The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India sanctioned 634 athletes across 38 sporting disciplines for participation in the upcoming Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8.
Out of the 850 athletes recommended by the Indian Olympic Association, 634 athletes met the set selection criteria, said the ministry in a release on August 25. The athletes include 320 men and 314 women. The number is up from 572 athletes in the 2018 Asian Games at Jakarta and Palembang where India won 70 medals, including 16 Golds.
The return of cricket and Indian football teams’ qualification boosts the team’s number in the forthcoming tournament and hopes to win more medals.
The 19th edition of the tournament will kick off on September 23 with five new sports, namely Esports, baseball, softball, karate, and sport climbing making their debuts. Cricket was played during the 2010 and 2014 edition of the tournament, but this is the first time India is sending its teams to the Asian Games.
