New Delhi.;  The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has announced the selection criteria for participation of individuals and teams in the Asian Games 2026 and other multi-sport events. The guidelines aim to create a transparent and equitable framework, ensuring that only athletes with a realistic chance of winning medals are considered.

The criteria cover both measurable and non-measurable events, with benchmarks based on past Asian Games, Senior Asian Championships, or international rankings. For measurable sports, athletes must at least match the 6th-place performance from the last Asian Games at a recognized competition within 12 months of the upcoming event. For non-measurable events, athletes need a top-six finish in recent Asian Championships or be ranked among the top six Asian nations in international rankings.

For team sports and events, teams must be among the top eight in Asian Championships or international rankings within 12 months before the Games. A relaxation clause allows the Ministry, on expert advice or SAI recommendations, to approve participation in exceptional cases. However, the Ministry has clarified that participation will not be allowed merely for representation, and only those cleared at government cost will be part of the contingent.

The complete criteria can be accessed here.

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