Sports ministry, AITA clash over excluded tennis players for Asiad

The Sports Ministry has defended the exclusion of five tennis players from India's Asian Games squad, saying they were not on the All India Tennis Association (AITA) shortlist sent to the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Authority of India. Sources told Times Now that the final squad was chosen strictly based on ranking criteria applied across 40 sports. The five omitted players are Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaishnavi Adkar, Manas Dhamne, Prarthana Thombare and Vaidehee Chaudhari.

AITA has disputed the ministry's claim. It said it had formally sought a review of the decision and pointed to a written representation to the IOA dated July 3, 2026. Secretary General Sunder Iyer said the claim that the players were not put forward was factually incorrect. Tennis great Rohan Bopanna has criticised the decision, saying players earned their place on merit and that a committee decided their fate on paper before a ball was struck.

The selection criteria require singles players to be ranked in the top six in Asia and doubles players in the top eight over 12 months. The ministry said making an exception for tennis would destroy administrative integrity and trigger litigation from other sports bodies. India will send a seven-member tennis contingent to the Asian Games, starting September 19 in Nagoya, Japan.