The Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. India had earlier announced a 73-member athletics team for the tournament. The Athletics Federation of India has now added six more athletes and announced an updated 77-member squad.Javelin throw star Neeraj Chopra has withdrawn from the Asian Games due to injury. Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Yashveer Singh has been included in the team in his place.Long-distance runner Abhishek Pal has also been removed from the squad after the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) issued him a notice over alleged doping-related violations. 110m hurdler Tejas Shirse has also been dropped after suffering an injury during the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Six athletes have been newly added to the squad. They are 200m runner Haritha Batra, 400m runner Kiran Pahal, pole vaulter Sindhu Sri G, triple jumper Asha Ilango, discus thrower Sanya Yadav and hammer thrower Praveen Kumar.The Athletics Federation of India has also requested the Asian Games organisers to allow Avinash Sable to compete in the 5,000m event. Sable, who won two medals at the previous Asian Games, is already confirmed to compete in his preferred 3,000m steeplechase event.SMeanwhile, Gulveer Singh and Parul Chaudhary will compete in three events each. Gulveer will take part in the 10,000m, 5,000m and 1,500m races. Parul will compete in the 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m and 1,500m events.
