New Delhi: Minister of Sports Mansukh Mandaviya he made it clear on Thursday that he is Asian games the contingent in September would be limited to 600 athletes, and only those who can make it to the continental exhibition will have the right to travel to Japan.While making it clear that the Asian Games was not the place for “exposure trips”, Mandaviya told the media that the policy of selection trials being filmed and monitored by independent observers proved crucial. After that, athletes who are among the top six in the continental rankings would be qualified. Such a suspension denied Indian football teams the right to participate in the Aichi-Nagoya Games.“The Asian Games is not an exhibition tour, it is a platform for athletes to make the country proud with their best performance. So, as I have repeatedly said, only those who can do that will travel,” he said.“Exposure can be gained elsewhere. It doesn’t have to be the Asian Games. Anyone who wants to secure a job through certificates of participation will not be approved. The Games are about performance and we will ensure that,” he continued.‘Ministry of Return Anush Agarwalla‘On the same platform, Mandaviya shed light on the ever-controversial selection process that precedes multi-sport events. This time, rowers Manika Batra and Equestrian Anush Agarwalla sparked outrage over their non-selection.While Batra questioned the process itself, Agarwalla moved the Delhi High Court after the ad-hoc committee of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) decided to leave him out. After the Delhi HC dismissed the plea, it is being heard by a Division Bench.According to the source, the Ministry of Sports will support his inclusion despite the initial legal difficulties.The Delhi HC dismissed the pleas of Agarwalla and Sudipta Hajela who challenged the calculation of minimum eligibility requirements (MER), interpretation of selection criteria, non-existence of additional selection tests and leveled allegations of bias in the selection board.The Ministry of Sports has made it clear that the lists published by the National Sports Federations (NSF) after conducting the tests “represent only the recommended/selected list of the federations resulting from the internal selection process.”“Such a list does not represent the final Indian contingent approved by the Government,” a source from the Ministry clarified.“Names recommended by the NSF remain subject to IOA scrutiny, SAI scrutiny and final approval by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.”“…only those athletes, coaches and support staff whose names are included in the Sanction Order issued by MYAS (Ministry of Youth and Sports) will be treated as members of the official Indian contingent for the Asian Games,” the source added.
