Asian Games: 634 Athletes To Represent India, Pragg Features as Chess Returns

Asian Games 2023: Indian athletes will be seen competing in 38 disciplines at Hangzhou.

Asian Games: Neeraj Chopra and Praggnanandhaa are among India's biggest medal hopes.

(Photo: PTI & FIDE, altered by The Quint)

634 athletes, across 38 sports, will be representing India in the upcoming Asian Games in China’s Hangzhou, the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MYAS) and sports announced on Friday, 25 August.

India’s Asian Games contingent comprises of 320 male and 314 female athletes, with athletics featuring the most participants (65). 44 footballers and 30 cricketers will also be travelling to China.

Notably, after being a demonstration event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Esports will feature as a competitive sport in this edition of the competition. 15 Esports athletes will be boarding the flight to Hangzhou, competing in four disciplines – League of Legends, DOTA 2, FIFA Online 4 and Street Fighter 4.

“Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has today sanctioned 634 athletes across 38 sporting disciplines for participation in the upcoming Asian Games, who met the set selection criteria, against the 850 athletes recommended by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA),” MYAS’ statement read.

No Place for Achinta Sheuli, Dipa Karmakar

In weightlifting, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and Bindyarani Devi will be India’s solitary representatives, with the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist , Achinta Sheuli not making the cut. Moreover, the women’s sabre team was also not selected for the competition.

With another Commonwealth Games medallist, Dipa Karmakar not being selected, Pranati Nayak will be the lone Indian gymnast at the Asian Games. Alongside Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, Kishore Jena and Annu Rani will feature in javelin throw.

India had sent 570 athletes for the Jakarta Asian Games, resulting in 70 medals. Wushu, which returned four medals for the nation in the last edition, will feature 10 Indian participants this time around.

Chess, meanwhile, will be making a comeback at the Asian Games after 13 years. Ten Grandmasters (GM) have been selected to represent the nation, with the teenager who recently scripted history by becoming the youngest runner-up at the FIDE World Cup, and only the second-ever Indian to qualify for the Candidates Tournament, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa being the major highlight.

Number of Indian Athletes in Each Discipline:

• Archery – 12

• Aquatics – 22

• Athletics – 65

• Badminton – 19

• Boxing – 13

• Cycling – 10

• Judo – 4

• Rowing – 33

• Shooting – 30

• Table Tennis – 10

• Weightlifting – 2

• Bridge – 18

• Chess – 10

• Golf – 7

• Soft Tennis – 10

• Squash – 8

• Ju-Jitsy – 6

• Kurash – 2

• Tennis – 9

• Esports – 15

• Wushu – 10

• Sailing – 16

• Kayaking & Canoeing – 17

• Sepaktakraw – 16

• Roller Skating – 14

• Gymnastics – 1

• Fencing – 9

• Wrestling – 18

• Equestrian – 11

• Sport Climbing – 7

• Cricket – 30

• Handball – 16

• Hockey – 36

• Kabaddi – 24

• Rugby – 12

• Basketball – 20

• Volleyball – 24

• Football – 44