Para-Asian Games shooting selection row: Sports Minister to meet protesting athletes

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will meet para-shooters protesting alleged corruption and manipulation in the selection process for the upcoming Para Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with athletes seeking answers over the selection process.The Sports Minister will meet the protesting athletes regarding the Para-Asian Games shooting selection row. (Image: PTI)New Delhi,Oct 8, 2026 21:17 ISTSports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will meet para-shooters, who have been protesting against alleged corruption and manipulation in the selection process for the upcoming Para Asian Games, here on Friday to address their concerns.The shooters, who held a demonstration at the Sports Authority of India headquarters, continued the protest at the send-off ceremony for Games-bound para-athletes here on Thursday. The Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from October 18 to 24."There seem to be a lot of institutional problems in how para-shooting is being run right now. It is not merely about the Asian Games. The minister will meet them to try and resolve the issues raised by them, including that of corruption," a well-placed Ministry source said.The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has rejected the charges and insisted that the team was picked entirely on merit. In a representation to the Director General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday, the shooters alleged "illicit monetary extortion, brazen corruption" and violations of Sports Ministry's guidelines by PCI officials and its Shooting Technical Committee (STC) in selections for the Aichi-Nagoya Games.The representation alleged that athletes were being pressured to pay a 20 per cent commission from government cash awards as a precondition for selection, while also accusing officials of manipulating international quota places and qualifying scores to favour certain shooters. They also accused the selection committee of discarding prescribed Ministry criteria, manipulating qualifying scores and replacing an earlier selection panel without recorded justification."Little can be done now to make any changes to the contingent. But these are very serious charges and cannot be simply rejected without a thorough understanding of what's going on," the source said.CYCLISTS PROTEST AT SAIThe six para-cyclists, who have been omitted from the contingent for failing to meet the selection criteria, held a protest at the SAI headquarters this afternoon. However, it is unlikely to cause any major upheaval as the final entries have already been submitted.Paralympian Arshad Shaik is the only cyclist to receive Ministry's approval for the Games. Arshad secured a fourth-place finish among nine athletes during the Asian Para Road Championships this year and was fifth in the eight-strong Asian Para Track Championship's 1km time trial event.- Ends