India to field biggest ever contingent at Asian Games

New Delhi : India will field its biggest ever in the upcoming Asian Games in China with the Sports Ministry on Thursday clearing 843 names, including 609 athletes.

The huge contingent includes 127 coaches, 44 managers, eight doctors, seven physiotherapists, six masseurs, nine technical officials and 33 officials. With 71 sportspersons (40 men and 31 women), athletics forms the largest chunk of the pack for the Games, to be held from November 12 to 27. Shooting has the second largest team with 40 competitors comprising 25 men and 15 women.In the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, India had sent 432 athletes to compete in 31 disciplines and finished eighth in the medals tally with a total of 53 medals including 10 gold, 17 silver and 26 bronze. The Sports Ministry has approved the list of the participants. "The participation of 609 sportspersons, 127 coaches, eight doctors, six masseurs/masseuse, 33 officials and 1 manager (hockey) has been cleared at cost to government, while the participation of nine technical officials has been cleared at air passage cost and participation of 43 managers has been cleared at no cost to Government," a release said. PTI