Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Asian Games Selection Dispute Expands From Tennis To Rowing
India is choosing athletes for the upcoming Asian Games.
Four women rowers were not included, even though their recent race times were faster than the time recorded by the bronze medallists in one event at the previous Asian Games.
India’s rowing federation says these athletes could compete for medals.
The Sports Ministry says everyone was told the selection rules a year earlier.
It says the team should be small and athletes must meet the announced standards.
Five tennis players were also left out because they did not meet ranking requirements.
Some athletes and sports officials believe strong recent performances should also be considered.
A rule allows possible exceptions, but any changes need government and Olympic Council approval.
Four Indian women rowers were excluded from the 492-member Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games contingent despite recent international performances.
Suman Devi and Diljot Kaur recorded 7:36.17 in the women’s pair at World Cup III in Lucerne.
Bharati Devi Oinam and Priya Devi Thangjam clocked 7:29.18 in the double sculls at the same event.
The rowing dispute follows the exclusion of five tennis players who did not meet stipulated ranking cut-offs.
The Sports Ministry says its criteria were announced a year in advance, while policy provisions allow expert-recommended exceptions subject to government and Olympic Council approval.
- Who
- Four Indian women rowers—Suman Devi, Diljot Kaur, Bharati Devi Oinam and Priya Devi Thangjam—were left out; the Sports Ministry and Rowing Federation of India disagree over the selection approach.
- What
- The dispute concerns their exclusion from India’s Asian Games team despite recent international timings described by the rowing federation as medal-level.
- When
- The Asian Games are scheduled for September 19 to October 4; the rowers posted their cited timings at World Cup III in Lucerne in June.
- Where
- The Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, while the cited rowing performances occurred in Lucerne.
- Why
- The rowing federation points to recent performances, while the Sports Ministry says athletes must meet selection criteria announced a year in advance.
Federations and Performance Advocates
Sports Ministry and Criteria Advocates
Basis for selection
Federations and Performance Advocates
The Rowing Federation of India says the women’s pair and double-sculls crews have produced timings that make them medal contenders and could improve before the Games.
Sports Ministry and Criteria Advocates
The Sports Ministry says selection rules were announced a year in advance and should be applied consistently.
Team size and experience
Federations and Performance Advocates
The federation’s appeal seeks consideration of recent international performances, while the broader debate includes arguments for sending athletes who may gain experience.
Sports Ministry and Criteria Advocates
The ministry says the plan from the beginning was to send a lean contingent and that athletes had sufficient time to meet the criteria.
Use of exceptions
Federations and Performance Advocates
The Sports Authority of India policy provides a route for expert-recommended additions when there are justifiable reasons.
Sports Ministry and Criteria Advocates
Any exception or change would still require government clearance and approval from the Olympic Council of Asia.
- Contingent size
- India’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games contingent is reported to have 492 members.
- Excluded rowers
- Suman Devi, Diljot Kaur, Bharati Devi Oinam and Priya Devi Thangjam.
- Women’s pair timing
- Suman Devi and Diljot Kaur recorded 7:36.17 in Final C at World Cup III in Lucerne.
- Double sculls timing
- Bharati Devi Oinam and Priya Devi Thangjam recorded 7:29.18 at World Cup III.
- Previous Asian Games benchmark
- South Korea’s Kim Ha-yeong and Lee Soo-bin won the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games women’s-pair bronze in 7:51.14.
- Ministry position
- The Sports Ministry says its selection criteria were announced a year in advance and include selecting athletes ranked among Asia’s top six.
- Possible exceptions
- The Sports Authority of India policy permits exceptions for justifiable reasons when recommended by federation experts, subject to government clearance and Olympic Council of Asia approval.