Weightlifter Rishikanta Singh ruled out of Asian Games; Athletes Annu Rani, Shahnavaz Khan and Nithya Gandhe dropped as well
Commonwealth silver-medallist lifter Rishikanta Singh—the lone male weightlifter named in India's squad—has been ruled out of the upcoming Asian Games due to a knee injury.
The Manipuri athlete, who competes in the 60kg division, sustained the injury shortly before securing a silver medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July. A source within the Indian Weightlifting Federation confirmed to PTI that following an assessment, Rishikanta has been advised to undergo a month of rehabilitation. His withdrawal leaves India's weightlifting contingent consisting solely of four women: Tokyo Olympic silver-medallist Mirabai Chanu (49kg), Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), Nirupama Devi (61kg), and Harjinder Kaur (69kg).
Concurrently, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) trimmed its track and field contingent to 74 members after dropping former Asian Games champion javelin thrower Annu Rani, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan, and sprinter Nithya Gandhe. The decision was finalized during a virtual selection committee meeting on Friday, following the confirmatory Indian Athletics Series Final at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
AFI selection committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla explained that Annu Rani failed to clear the AFI qualification standard (57.62m) during the final trial, posting a season-best mark of 57.50m. Meanwhile, Shahnavaz Khan—who jumped 8.30m in June and earned a World U20 bronze—was sidelined by a medical issue that restricted him to a sixth-place finish (7.43m), and Nithya Gandhe was left out following a ninth-place finish (11.93s) in the 100m. Sprinter Harita Bhadra, who won the trial 100m in 11.22 seconds, is being considered to replace Gandhe in the women's 4x100m relay, subject to approval from event organizers.
The remaining 74 track and field athletes are scheduled to fly to Japan on Saturday for an acclimatization camp at the University of Tsukuba before entering Aichi-Nagoya on September 21.
Key Team Status Updates
Cleared Following Injury Concerns: National record holders Praveen Chithravel (triple jump), Sarvesh Kushare (high jump), Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), and 400m hurdler Yashas Palaksha have been passed fit by medical staff despite missing the final trials.
Not Selected Despite Record: Hammer thrower Nirbhay Chaudhary set a new national record with a 71.02m throw (exceeding the 69.12m standard), but was ineligible because his season began in August, after the initial qualification deadline.
Double Event Request: The AFI remains hopeful that Asian Games organizers will permit double-medallist Avinash Sable to compete in the 5000m alongside his primary event, the 3000m steeplechase.