Bengaluru: Women’s pole vault national record holder Sindhushree G and unheralded high jumper Supriya B are all set to make their Asian Games debut as the Karnataka duo made the 77-athlete squad for the event in Aichi-Nagoya, slated from September 19 to October 4.
As many as six Karnataka track and field athletes (including five women) made the list, including sprinters Unnathi Aiyappa (200m and 4x100m mixed relays), Sneha S S (women’s and mixed 4x100m relay) and quartermiler Poovamma M R (women’s 4x400m relay). 400m hurdler Yashas P is the lone Karnataka man in the squad.
2026 season has turned out to be a defining one for Sindhu and Supriya as they were not in the reckoning for a spot in the Asiad until their performances at the National Inter-State Championships in June, where the former broke the national record while Supriya cleared the qualification mark with a personal best of 1.80m.
The 25-year-old high jumper, who is currently training at the SAI Bengaluru national camp, also further proved her credentials with a gold medal at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Meet in Bhubaneswar last month.
Meanwhile, Neeraj Chopra has been replaced in the javelin squad by Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Yashvir Singh after the two-time defending champion pulled out of the rest of the season due to an ankle ligament tear. The onus of retaining the gold also falls on Rohit Yadav, who has thrown 87m-plus twice this season.
Amid other key inclusions in the squad were 3000m steeplechaser Avinash Sable and 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji. The national record duo is on a comeback trail following a long injury layoff. While there is still a question mark over the high hurdle queen’s fitness, Sable may compete in the 5000m as well with the event considered an easier shot at a medal.
Meanwhile, long-distance runner Abhishek Pal was not included in the list after a prohibited substance was found in his dope sample. However, DH has learnt the athlete has urged the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for an early hearing as he remains confident of proving his innocence and be included in the team.
It is also worth noting that the 4x400m relay teams also remain subject to change with the final relay combinations expected to be announced after September 10’s Indian Athletics Series Final in New Delhi.