Asian Games
Asian Games 2026: Annu Rani dropped from Indian athletics squad
Long jumper Shahnavaz Khan and sprinter Nithya Gandhe were also dropped.
Annu Rani. (Photo Credits: AP)
Last edition's gold medallist javelin thrower Annu Rani, rising long jumper Shahnavaz Khan and sprinter Nithya Gandhe were on Friday dropped from India's Asian Games athletics team due to performance and medical-related reasons, bringing down the total number of Japan-bound track and field members to 74.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had earlier named 77 athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya but the team was further trimmed after the Indian Athletics Series Final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday, which served as the confirmatory event.
"Annu did not achieve qualification mark (set by AFI) in the final trial (on Thursday), hence not selected for the Asian Games," AFI Selection Committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla told said.
"Nithya and Shahnavaz will not go for Asian Games due to poor performance and medical reasons," he added.
The decision to leave out the trio was taken at a virtual conference of the AFI Selection Committee on Friday.
The remaining 74 athletes will depart for Japan from New Delhi on Saturday.
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