Asian Games 2026: Why was Annu Rani dropped from India’s athletics contingent?
Annu Rani is the current women’s javelin throw titleholder at the Asian Games
Annu Rani has been dropped from India’s athletics contingent for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 after failing to meet the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) qualification mark in the women’s javelin throw event.
Rani, who is the current Asian Games champion, managed a best throw of 57.50m at the Indian Athletics Series Final on Thursday, which served as the confirmatory trial.
Although she won the women’s javelin throw event in New Delhi, she fell 12cm short of 57.62m, which was the AFI’s qualification mark for the Asian Games 2026. AFI Selection Committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla later confirmed the reason for her exclusion.
“Annu did not achieve (AFI’s) qualification mark in the final trial and was hence not selected for the Asian Games,” Sumariwalla told PTI.
The decision to exclude Rani from the Indian athletics contingent was taken during a virtual meeting of the AFI Selection Committee on Friday.
Following Neeraj Chopra’s injury-enforced withdrawal and Rani’s exclusion, neither of the reigning Asian Games javelin champions will be taking part at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
This is a massive blow to Rani’s career. Having won the gold at the Hangzhou 2023 Games with a best throw of 62.92m, she became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games javelin gold. She also won bronze at the Incheon 2014 Games.
However, having turned 34 in August, the Aichi-Nagoya Games represented one of her final opportunities to add to her medal tally at the continental stage. That opportunity has now slipped past her.
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Annu Rani was not the only athlete removed from the Indian squad for the Asian Games 2026. Long jumper Shahnavaz Khan and sprinter Nithya Gandhe were also dropped from the team due to performance and injury-related reasons.
“Nithya and Shahnavaz will not go for Asian Games due to poor performance and medical reasons,” Sumariwalla said.
The 18-year-old Khan was part of India’s long jump team. However, the youngster was reportedly dealing with an injury and finished sixth at the Indian Athletics Series Final.
Meanwhile, Gandhe was part of the women’s 4x100m relay team. She finished ninth in the women’s 100m event at the Indian Athletics Series Final with a time of 11.93 seconds and was dropped from the Asian Games squad due to poor form.
As a result of these omissions, the Indian athletics contingent – originally consisting of 77 members – has been reduced to 74 members. The Asian Games 2026 will take place from September 19 to October 4, with the javelin throw events scheduled from September 26 to 28.
Why was Annu Rani dropped from India’s athletics contingent for Asian Games 2026?
She failed to meet the AFI qualification mark of 57.62m in the women’s javelin throw, recording 57.50m at the Indian Athletics Series Final.
When will the Asian Games 2026 take place?
It will be held in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
When is javelin throw event scheduled at Asian Games 2026?
The javelin throw events will take place between September 26 and September 28, 2026, in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan.
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