New Delhi: minister of sports Mansukh Mandaviya made it clear on thursday Asian Games The delegation size in September is capped at 600 athletes, and only those athletes who can perform well in mainland competitions are eligible to travel to Japan.Mandaviya made it clear that the Asian Games was not the right avenue for an “exposure tour” but told the media that the policy of having independent observers film and monitor the trials had proved crucial. Subsequently, the top six athletes from the continent will qualify. Such a cut-off disqualified the Indian football team from participating in the Aoi-Nagoya Olympics.“The Asian Games is not an exposure trip but a platform for athletes to make the country proud with their best performance. Therefore, as I have repeatedly stressed, only those who are capable will go to the Asian Games,” he said.“Exposure can be gained elsewhere. Not necessarily the Asian Games. Anyone hoping to get a job through participation certificate will not be approved. The Olympics is about performance and we will ensure that,” he continued.“The ministries will carry it.” Anush Agarwala‘On the same platform, Mandavia shed light on the controversial selection process ahead of multiple sporting events. This time, the paddler Manika Batra Equestrian Anush Agarwalla caused uproar when he was not selected.While Batra challenged the process itself, Agarwala filed a petition in the Delhi High Court after the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) ad hoc committee decided to exclude Agarwala. The divisional bench is hearing the plea after the Delhi High Court rejected it.According to sources, despite the initial legal setback, the athletic ministry will return his eligibility.The Delhi Supreme Commission dismissed the petitions of Agarwalla and Sudipti Hajela which objected to the calculation of minimum qualification requirements (MER), explanation of selection criteria, lack of additional selection test and alleged bias on the part of the selection committee.The sports ministry has made it clear that the list announced by the National Sports Federation (NSF) after a trial “only represents the list recommended/selected by the federation during its internal selection process”.“Such a list does not constitute the final approval of the Indian contingent by the government,” ministry sources clarified.“The names recommended by the NSF are still subject to review by the IOA, review by the SAI and final approval from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.”“…Only those athletes, coaches and support staff whose names are included in the sanction order of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports can be considered as members of India’s official Asian Games team,” the source added.
