Asian Games: Yashvir Singh Replaces Neeraj Chopra, Tejas Shirse & Abhishek Pal Out

Last Updated:September 03, 2026, 4:02 PM IST

AFI has announced a 77-member Indian track and field team for the September 19-October 4 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

(From left) Abhishek Pal, Yashvir Singh and Tejas Shirse (PTI/IG)

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Yashvir Singh has been named in India’s athletics squad for the upcoming Asian Games, replacing an injured Neeraj Chopra. Long-distance runner Abhishek Pal, meanwhile, has been left out after receiving a notice from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) over an alleged doping offence.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Thursday announced the final 77-member track and field contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4.

The squad was announced at a press conference in Ludhiana, which is currently hosting the National Youth Championships.

Men’s 110m hurdler Tejas Shirse is another notable omission after suffering an injury during the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Explaining Yashvir’s inclusion, AFI president Bahadur Singh Sagoo said, “We have brought in Yashvir who is a CWG medal winner in place of Neeraj Chopra who is currently injured. It was an injury replacement and so there was no problem (in Yashvir coming in).”

Why Abhishek Pal Has Been Dropped?

On Pal’s exclusion, Sagoo added, “Long distance runner Abhishek Pal has been dropped because of the issues he is facing. So this is the final team for the Asian Games.”

Pal was served a notice by NADA last month after his dope sample was found to contain a female fertility drug.

Officials said the substance was “below threshold level”.

Former AFI secretary and current planning commission chief Lalit Bhanot said the decision to drop Pal was taken as a precaution while the matter remains under investigation.

“It’s not a case of (Abhishek) returning dope positive. The presence of the substance is below threshold level. NADA is currently undergoing investigation. But we did not want to take any risk. We don’t want anybody to point a finger on us. So, we have dropped Abhishek from the team,” Bhanot said.

Shirse and Pal had originally been part of the 73-member athletics team announced by the Sports Ministry earlier this month. Six more athletes were added to the contingent on Wednesday.

The New Additions

The additions are 200m runner Harita Bhadra, quarter-miler Kiran Pahal, pole vaulter Sindhushree G, triple jumper I Asha Ilango, discus thrower Sanya Yadav and hammer thrower Praveen Kumar.

With Pal and Shirse removed from the original squad and six athletes subsequently added, the final strength of the Indian athletics team stands at 77.

Bhanot said the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organisers have approved the inclusion of the six additional athletes following a request from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

“These six athletes were not in the long list submitted by us (few months back) but the IOA made a request for their inclusion and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Asian Games Organising Committee have accepted their entry,” Bhanot told PTI.

“It just happened just a few days back,” he added.

The AFI has also sought permission for Avinash Sable to compete in the 5000m at the Games. His participation in the 3000m steeplechase, in which he is a confirmed entrant, is not in doubt.

Sable, a double medallist from the previous Asian Games, has competed in only one race this season after undergoing ACL surgery last year. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, he won gold in the 3000m steeplechase and silver in the 5000m.

“Sable’s participation in 3000m steeplechase is confirmed, there is no problem in that. But we have also made a request to the Asian Games organisers for him to run in 5000m also. But, this is subject to him breaching the AFI qualification mark (in 5000m) during the final event of the Indian Athletics Series on September 10 in New Delhi,” Bhanot said.

The Indian Athletics Series Finals in New Delhi on September 10 will be a prize money competition and is expected to feature most of the athletes selected for the Asian Games.

For Sable to gain entry into the 5000m, he will first have to clear the AFI’s qualification mark at the New Delhi event and then secure approval from the Asian Games organisers.

In Shirse’s case, an AFI source said the federation had asked the hurdler to provide a written update on his fitness, but he has yet to do so.

Gulveer Singh and Parul Chaudhary are set to compete in three events each in Japan. Gulveer will contest the 10,000m, 5000m and 1500m, while Parul will compete in the 3000m steeplechase, 5000m and 1500m.

With PTI Inputs

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Will Neeraj Chopra compete in any other upcoming events?

Neeraj Chopra will not compete in any other upcoming events this year. He has suffered an ankle ligament tear during training and has decided to sit out the remainder of the 2026 season. As a result, he will miss the Asian Games in Japan, the Diamond League final, and the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.

What are the implications of Abhishek Pal’s doping notice?

As a result of the doping notice, Abhishek Pal has been dropped from the Indian athletics team for the upcoming Asian Games. Although he was not initially handed a provisional suspension, the notice made it difficult for him to compete, and he has now been excluded from the final 77-member squad.

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Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More

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