Neeraj Chopra: A Champion on the Mend
India's biggest medal hope, Neeraj Chopra, has been heartbreakingly ruled out of the Asian Games, where he was the defending champion. The two-time Olympic medallist suffered an ankle ligament tear during a training session, bringing his 2026 season to
a premature end. The injury occurred shortly after he recorded a season-best throw of 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League, a performance that signalled he was hitting his peak form. In a social media post, Chopra expressed his disappointment but emphasized that his focus is now on a full recovery to come back stronger. His withdrawal is a significant blow to India's athletics campaign, leaving a massive void in the men's javelin event. Yashvir Singh has been named as his replacement.
Deepika Kumari: The Archer Misses the Mark
Four-time Olympian and a stalwart of Indian archery, Deepika Kumari, will not be part of the squad for the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Along with her husband and fellow archer, Atanu Das, Deepika failed to secure a spot during the rigorous three-day selection trials held in Sonepat. The trials, which saw a new-look, youthful squad being selected, were highly competitive. While both she and Das missed out on the Asian Games team, they did manage to retain their places in the squad for the Archery World Cup stages. The absence of such an experienced archer is a notable shift for the team, which now looks to a younger generation to carry the torch.
Varun Chakaravarthy: Another Injury Setback
The Indian men's cricket team will be without the services of mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. He was ruled out of the Asian Games after suffering a side strain. This injury came shortly after he had returned to action following rehabilitation for a hamstring issue, making it a frustrating setback for the player. His absence adds to a list of injury concerns that have plagued India's preparations for the continental event.
Tejas Shirse: Hurdles Off the Track
National record holder in the 110m hurdles, Tejas Shirse, is another prominent athlete forced to withdraw. Scans revealed stress fractures in his landing foot, an injury that also hampered his Commonwealth Games participation. The promising hurdler, who had a strong season, will now shift his focus towards rehabilitation instead of competing in Nagoya. His absence is a loss for an athletics squad that was already reeling from Chopra's withdrawal.
Selection Policy and Other Absences
Beyond injuries, stringent selection criteria set by the Sports Ministry have also led to some surprising omissions across disciplines. In tennis, five players, including Manas Dhamne and Sahaja Yamalapalli, were left out of the final squad proposed by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) because they did not meet the government's ranking benchmarks, which require singles players to be in the top six and doubles players in the top eight in Asia. In archery, multiple Asian Games medallist Abhishek Verma also failed to make the cut after the selection trials. Similarly, weightlifter Chanambam Rishikanta Singh, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, was withdrawn due to a recurring knee problem, leaving India without a male weightlifter at the Games.
