{
  "id": 5147627,
  "title": "India's Asian Games Contingent Strength Rises To 768; Sports Ministry Approves 246 Officials & Support Staff",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/indias-asian-games-contingent-strength-rises-to-768-sports-ministry",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T18:16:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/indias-asian-games-contingent-strength-rises-to-768-sports-ministry-approves-246-officials-support-staff"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New Delhi, Sep 2: The Sports Ministry in India has increased the size of the country's Asian Games contingent to 768 members, consisting of 246 officials and support staff alongside the 492 athletes who are set to compete in the 20th Asian Games. The Games are scheduled to commence in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 19 and conclude on October 4.\n\nInitially, the ministry had approved 492 athletes, but subsequent additions have boosted the number, primarily in the athletics contingent. The total strength of India's delegation now comprises 768 individuals. Among these, 19 staff members are involved in various capacities such as the chef de mission Sahdev Yadav and chief medical officer Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala.\n\nThe athletics contingent, numbering 79, comprises the largest support team with 31 members, led by national coach P Radhakrishnan. Additionally, the two cricket teams have been allocated a support staff of 20, overseen by VVS Laxman. India will be competing in 36 disciplines during the Asian Games, which are scheduled to end on October 4.",
  "summary": "New Delhi, Sep 2: The Sports Ministry on Wednesday approved a contingent of 246 team officials and support staff for the 503 athletes who will compete in the 20th Asian Games beginning in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 19. The Ministry had originally approved 492 athletes for the Games, but as was expected, a few names have been added mainly in the athletics contingent. India's total…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}