By Sushant Singh
The provisional squad for India’s Athletics Team for the Asian Games 2026 is out, with around 70 athletes included in the camp list.
It should be noted that this is not the final squad, but it does give a clear indication of what the final team could look like.
Here is our analysis of the provisional squad:
AFI’s selection guidelines had clearly stated that the Interstate Championships would act as the final trials for all athletes, and the federation had already announced the qualification standards for the Asian Games 2026.
Keeping that in mind, some athletes have been included despite not having achieved the qualification standard or not having finished in the top two of the qualification process.
NNIS Sports has learned that these athletes were included after the federation requested SAI to consider their names, with the hope that they will achieve the qualification standard in upcoming competitions before the Asian Games.
In the relay events, the Men’s 4x400m, Women’s 4x400m and Mixed 4x400m relays have been included. In the 4x100m relays, only the Women’s and Mixed relays have been included, leaving out the Men’s 4x100m Relay. NNIS Sports had earlier broken the news that the federation had decided to skip the Men’s 4x100m Relay at the Asian Games due to multiple injuries in the squad.
India’s Men’s 4x400m Relay Squad
- Vishal TK – 400m / 4x400m Relay
- Rajesh Ramesh – 400m / 4x400m Relay
- Manu TS – 4x400m Relay
- Dharamveer Chaudhary – 4x400m Relay
- Jay Kumar – 4x400m Relay
- Mohammed Ashfaq – 4x400m Relay
Based on their season performances, this appears to be the strongest possible squad the federation could have fielded for the Men’s 4x400m Relay. India’s U20 National Record holder Mohammed Ashfaq has also been included in the squad.
For the Mixed 4x100m Relay, India’s two fastest men of all time, Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur, have been selected. Gurindervir has also been named for the 100m individual event, while Animesh Kujur has been included in both the 100m and 200m individual events. Along with them, Harita Bhadra and Unnathi Bollanda have been named for the Mixed 4x100m Relay, while also being included in the 200m individual event.
The biggest surprise came with the inclusion of Tajinderpal Singh Toor instead of Samardeep, who had finished second at the final trials during the Interstate Championships 2026, ahead of Toor. Despite that performance, Samardeep failed to make the provisional list.
Annu Rani has also been included in the squad despite failing to achieve the qualification standard at the Interstate Championships. The reigning Asian Games champion has endured a difficult season and is yet to cross the 60m mark, with her season best being 56.74m, achieved at the Interstate Championships in Kalinga Stadium. The qualification standard was 57.62m. Her inclusion appears to have been influenced by her reputation as the defending Asian Games champion and the federation’s expectation that she could regain form before the Games.
Avinash Sable has been included after being out for a long period due to injury.
No male race walkers or male marathoners have been included, while Priyanka and Manju Rani have been selected in the women’s race walk / marathon category.
Tanya Chaudhary, who missed the qualification standard by just 2cm at the Interstate Championships, has been given an opportunity, along with Anushka Yadav, who shattered the Indian Women’s Hammer Throw National Record with a throw of 67.02m.
Tejas Shirse has also been named in the squad, although he is reportedly injured and may miss the Games. Apart from him, no other athlete has been selected in the event, including Manav R, who narrowly missed the qualification standard at the Interstate Championships by just 0.03 seconds.