Sports Ministry drops para-shooting coach Jai Prakash Nautiyal, clears 166 athletes for Para Asian Games

The Sports Ministry has dropped para-shooting coach Jai Prakash Nautiyal from India's contingent for the upcoming Para Asian Games, approving 166 athletes after a contentious selection process that triggered protests by shooters and cyclists.

Long-serving national coach Jeevan L Rai has replaced Nautiyal in the contingent for the Games, scheduled to begin on October 18 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Nautiyal had faced allegations of violating established selection criteria and demanding kickbacks in exchange for selecting athletes. Several shooters protested outside the Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters, seeking his removal and an investigation into the allegations.

The shooters also met Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to raise their grievances after attempting to disrupt the contingent's send-off ceremony last week.

With 94 team officials and support staff and 15 contingent staff, India's total delegation strength for the continental event stands at 275 across 10 disciplines.

Para-athletics accounts for the largest share of the squad, with 62 athletes, including 46 men, and a support staff of 36.

World Championships medallist Simran, a visually impaired sprinter whose previous guide, Umar Saifi, was caught in a doping case, has been included in the squad. She will compete at Aichi-Nagoya with a new guide, Shivam.

The Ministry has also declined to make last-minute additions to the cycling contingent despite protests by omitted riders. It approved only Paralympian Arshad Shaik, who was the best performer among those considered and met the selection criteria comfortably.

Six other cyclists selected by the Cycling Federation of India and the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) were excluded for failing to meet the criteria.

In table tennis, Paralympic silver medallist Bhavina Patel is among the prominent names in the approved squad.

The 28-member badminton team, comprising 17 men and 11 women, will be led by former world number one and Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist Pramod Bhagat and former Paralympic silver medallist Suhas Yathiraj. The team has been allocated 11 support staff.

Armless compound archer Sheetal Devi, who won two gold medals at the previous Para Asian Games, will be among India's leading medal contenders. The 19-year-old world champion will be joined by 18-year-old Payal Nag, who drew attention by defeating Sheetal at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok earlier this year.

The 13-member shooting squad, which has been at the centre of the selection controversy, includes Paralympic gold medallist Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal.

Agarwal secured a quota place for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics by winning a silver medal at the recent World Championships in Korea.