Government cuts on Asiad squad spark controversy

From Dipa Karmakar to CWG gold medallit Achinta Sheuli, the final list of 634 athletes across 38 disciplines cleared by the Sports Ministry for participation in the Asian Games on Friday saw a massive cut.

- Avishek Roy

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had sent a recommendation of 850 athletes. However, the Sports Ministry said it has cleared only those "who met the set selection criteria."

Several federations, jolted by the cut, called the selection criteria "unreasonable" and slammed the way it was applied “arbitrarily" to give a go ahead to a sport like football while leaving out "meritorious" athletes like Karmakar or disciplines like women's sabre team.

Sabre came into focus when Bhavani Dev qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. While Bhava was cleared for participation as an individual athlete, the team she was part of was dropped. In gymnastics, only Pranati Nayak will compete, as four male gymnasts and Karmakar were axed. Sports like triathlon, modern pentathlon, and taekwondo were left out while some weightlifters, the 4x100 relay teams also failed to make the cut.