New Delhi: The Sports Ministry of India has reportedly cut down the participation of Indian athletes at the 2025 Asian Winter Games. In a letter issued by the ministry on January 2, only 41 athletes out of the 76 names submitted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOC) were approved. The remaining 35 were dropped from the list.
As per a report by The Tribune, the friction between the IOA and the Sports Ministry has resulted into the latest development. The ministry, which is headed by Mansukh Mandaviya, has cited that only the athletes who fall in the top six rankings of the international sports, or top eight for team events, would be permitted to travel to China on the expense of the government.
The notable omissions from the list are the ice hockey team, and the complete squads of ski mountaineering and snowboard.
In a move to request the ministry to reconsider its decision, IOA president PT Usha has written a letter to sports minister Mandaviya, signifying the importance of participation of Indians to promote Winter Games in the country and explaining why relaxations can be made, following the suit of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (held in 2023).
“I urge the ministry to revisit its stance and approve the entire contingent of winter sports athletes proposed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Ensuring fair and adequate participation will significantly contribute to the promotion of winter sports in India and align with our shared vision of nurturing and supporting athletes across diverse disciplines,” an excerpt of the letter read.
The Winter Asian Games 2025 is scheduled from February 7 to 14 in Harbin, China. This will be the ninth edition of the continental event. This is the next big event in winter sports happening in China after Beijing hosted the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. These events provide big platform for sports which are played on ice or snow. Some of the well known winter sports are ice hockey, ice skating, and skiing.
The Sports Ministry of India slashed the number of Indian athletes participating in the 2025 Asian Winter Games from 76 to 41, citing a strict ranking criteria. IOA president PT Usha appealed for reconsideration, emphasizing the importance of broader participation in promoting winter sports in India. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
