Union Government cleared 679-member squad for Asian Games

Union Government on 9 September 2014 cleared a 679-member squad to represent India in the 17th edition of the Asian Games to be held in Incheon, South Korea from 19 September to 4 October 2014. The decided squad includes 516 athletes and sportsmen and 163 coaches and supporting staff.

This selection is against the original list issued by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The IOA on 21 August 2014 sent a list of total 942 participants that included 662 athletes and 280 officials

The decision on the squad was taken by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Youth Affairs & Sports Sarbananda Sonowal in consultation with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the 17th edition of Asian Games India will take part in 28 disciplines as compared to the 35 in which Indian contingent participated in the last edition of 2010 Asian Games. In the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, India sent a contingent of 609 athletes plus 324 officials.

The 28 disciplines of the Asian Games for which the Indian squad has been cleared are archery, athletics, aquatics (swimming), badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, canoeing and kayaking, equestrian, football, gymnastics, golf, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, rowing, sepak takraw, shooting, squash, taekwondo, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, wushu, weightlifting, wrestling, , and yachting.

About Asian Games
The Asian Games are also known as Asiad. Asian Games is the biggest multi-sport games after Olympic Games and is organised by the Olympic Council of Asia. It is a Pan-continental multi-sport event of Asia and is held in every four years. The event’s participants are athletes from across Asia. Mascot of the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea are three seal siblings named Barame, Chumuro, and Vichuan.

The inaugural Asian Games took place in New Delhi, India, in 1951 with 11 countries competing in six sports.