Gujarat to send record nine athletes to represent India at 2026 Asian Games
Gandhinagar, July 27
Gujarat will have its largest-ever representation at the Asian Games, with nine athletes and one reserve player selected to represent India at the 20th Asian Games in Japan's Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
The selection marks a significant increase from the 2014 Asian Games, when only three athletes from Gujarat represented the country.
State officials said the latest contingent reflects the steady expansion of Gujarat's presence across multiple sporting disciplines at the international level.
The athletes selected from Gujarat include shooter Elavenil Valarivan; table tennis players Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah; soft tennis player Aniket Patel; swimmer Aryan Nehra; tennis players Ankita Raina and Vaidehi Chaudhari; and sprinter Devyani Zala. Tennis player Jil Desai has been named as a reserve.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the increase in representation was the result of long-term investment in sports development.
"To ensure that athletes from Gujarat develop their talent at the international level, the then Chief Minister and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi implemented initiatives ranging from Khel Mahakumbh to the Shaktidoot Yojana. The results of those efforts are now visible. Gujarat is emerging as a global powerhouse in sports," Sanghavi said.
He added that the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, was focussed on creating a comprehensive sporting ecosystem.
"Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat is fully focussed on building a world-class sporting culture. We are not only training athletes but also creating an entire ecosystem that enables them to bring glory to the nation at the international level," he said.
Sanghavi also said Gujarat was preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and that work to develop world-class sports infrastructure was progressing on a war footing.
According to the state government, Gujarat's participation in major international events, including the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, has steadily increased over the past decade.
Officials said the selection of athletes from a range of disciplines, including shooting, table tennis, tennis, swimming, athletics and soft tennis, reflected the state's growing contribution to Indian sport beyond its traditional association with cricket.
The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, between September 19 and October 4, bringing together athletes from across Asia in one of the continent's largest multi-sport events.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Happy for the athletes, especially shooters and swimmers performing well. But isn't it too early to talk about hosting 2030 Commonwealth Games? Our infrastructure is improving, but we need to be realistic about timelines. Anyway, best wishes to the team for Asian Games!
Elavenil Valarivan is a shooter from Gujarat? Did not know she is from there. Amazing! Also Ankita Raina from tennis. So proud to see women leading the charge. Hope we win more medals this time. 🙏
I'm a Gujarati and I'm proud. But we should not forget the hard work of individual athletes and coaches, not just government schemes. Let's wait and see how they perform in Japan. Actions speak louder than press releases.
Soft tennis in the Asian Games? Did not know that existed. But good to see diversity in sports from Gujarat. Hope they do well against top Asian competitors from China, Japan, and Korea. Finger crossed for Devyani Zala in sprint. 🏃♂️
It is encouraging that the state is moving from cricket-only focus to other sports like table tennis and swimming. But infrastructure alone is not enough—we also need good nutrition, mental health support, and exposure for athletes. Hope the government covers all bases.
R We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.