Gujarat Breaks Record As Nine Athletes From The State Are Selected For The 2026 Asian Games
Over the last decade, the state has made consistent investment in grassroots development and athlete support, which have contributed to its athletic success
XtraTime Newsdesk: Gujarat has written a new chapter in Indian sports history, with a record nine athletes and one reserve player selected to represent India at the 20th Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. This milestone represents a significant improvement for the state, which had only three participants in the 2014 Asian Games. Twelve years later, Gujarat has treble that figure, highlighting its position as one of India's fastest-growing athletic hotspots. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi described it as a proud occasion for the state, saying the success reflected long-term efforts in sports development.
Sanghavi said, "Former Chief Minister and now Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid a strong foundation for sports in Gujarat through initiatives such as Khel Mahakumbh and the Shaktidoot Yojana. The results of those efforts are now visible. Gujarat is steadily emerging as a global sports powerhouse".
Over the last decade, the state has made consistent investment in grassroots development and athlete support, which have contributed to its athletic success. Initiatives implemented during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's term as Gujarat Chief Minister, such as the Shaktidoot Yojana and Khel Mahakumbh, paved the way for discovering and developing sports potential across the state.
The present administration, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has worked to expand that ecosystem through improved facilities, athlete support schemes, and high-performance training.
Harsh Sanghavi also said that they were building a "world class" sports culture in the state and that they are preparing world class infrastructure for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Over the last decade, Gujarat has steadily grown its presence at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games, reflecting the state's development into a multi-sport superpower.
With a record-breaking contingent due to participate in Japan, all eyes will be on Gujarat's athletes as they attempt to make their mark on one of Asia's most important sports platforms. The nine picked sportsmen cover a diverse variety of disciplines, demonstrating Gujarat's rising contribution to Indian sport beyond its traditional cricketing reputation. The contingent is made up of both veteran international artists and exciting emerging talent.
The selected athletes are:
Elavenil Valarivan - Shooting
Harmeet Desai - Table Tennis
Manav Thakkar - Table Tennis
Manush Shah - Table Tennis
Aniket Patel - Soft Tennis
Aryan Nehra - Swimming
Ankita Raina - Tennis
Vaidehi Chaudhari - Tennis
Devyani Zala - Athletics (Sprint)
Meanwhile, Jil Desai has been named as a reserve player in tennis.