Asian Games 2026: Sports Ministry approves 246-member Indian support staff contingent

The Sports Ministry on Wednesday approved a contingent of 246 team officials and support staff for the 503 athletes who will compete in the 20th Asian Games starting in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on September 19.

The ministry initially approved 492 athletes for the games, but as expected, several names were added, mainly in the athletics contingent.

The total strength of the Indian contingent now stands at 768, including 19 contingent personnel such as Chief of Mission Sahdev Yadav and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala.

The 79-member athletics contingent, which would be without injured javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra, has the largest support team of 31 members, including 20 coaches led by national coach P Radhakrishnan.

Two cricket teams were sanctioned by a support staff of 20 headed by VVS Laxman.

India will participate in 36 events during the games, which will conclude on October 4.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

02 Sep 2026 23:44 IST