The Para Asian Games 2026 is starting from October 18 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. For this, the Sports Ministry has approved 166 players. Para shooting coach Jai Prakash Nautiyal has been removed from the team after the selection process was surrounded by controversies. In his place, Jeevan L Rai has been given a place in the team. Nautiyal has been accused of demanding money in exchange for selection and not following established norms.
Several shooters had demonstrated outside the headquarters of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) demanding his dismissal and an investigation into the allegations. He also met Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and presented his complaints before him. Earlier, he had also demonstrated during the farewell ceremony of the Para Asiad team.
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Indian team will participate in 10 sports
India's 275-member contingent with 94 team officials and support staff and 15 team staff will participate in 10 sports. Of these, 62 are in athletics, including 46 men. World Championship medalist visually impaired sprinter Simran is also in the team. His former guide Omar Saifi was thrown out due to doping. Now his new guide Shivam will be with him.
Despite the performance of the cyclists, the ministry did not make any changes at the last moment and only Paralympian Arshad Shaikh was given a place. This is because his performance was the best among the contenders for selection in the team. Six others were selected by the Indian Cycling Federation and the Indian Paralympic Committee but were not included as they did not meet the criteria. Approved names in table tennis include Paralympic silver medalist Bhavina Patel.
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Eyes will be on Sheetal Devi
A 28-member contingent has been approved in badminton, which includes former world number one and Tokyo Paralympic gold medalist Pramod Bhagat and Paralympic silver medalist Suhas Yathiraj. Eyes will also be on armless para archer Sheetal Devi, who has won two gold medals in the Para Asiad. Along with her, 18-year-old Payal Nag will also participate, who defeated Sheetal in the World Para Archery Series in Bangkok this year.
The shooting contingent includes Paralympic gold medalists Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal. Mona has recently qualified for the Los Angeles Olympics by winning the gold medal in the World Championship in Korea.