New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS): In response to the growing logistical challenges posed by the ever-increasing number of athletes at the Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is contemplating a significant overhaul of the event’s qualification criteria. This move aims to streamline participation and address the concerns of host nations struggling with the sheer volume of competitors.
As preparations intensify for the upcoming OCA General Assembly, Deputy Director General Vinod Tiwari outlined the council’s plans to introduce a qualification system for the Asian Games. The proposed system would ensure that only teams meeting specific criteria would qualify for the continental sporting extravaganza.
“The Asian Games have become increasingly unmanageable due to the large number of athletes participating,” Tiwari explained during a recent media interaction. "Last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games saw over 15,000 athletes, with team sports contributing significantly to this number. As we look ahead to the 2026 Games in Japan, which will be hosted in Nagoya, managing such a vast number of participants could become impossible.”
The discussions around this reform are part of broader talks with various sports federations, including the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), to reduce the number of teams competing in the Games. The objective is to introduce a qualification phase for team sports, ensuring that only those teams that meet specific performance standards will be eligible to compete.
“The challenge is that when there is no qualification system, every country sends their teams, which can overwhelm the host nation,” Tiwari noted. “By implementing a qualification system, we aim to make the Games more manageable and sustainable for future hosts.”
The potential changes could have significant implications for countries like India. The Indian men’s and women’s football teams were granted special entry into the Hangzhou Asian Games after appeals from the Indian Olympic Association and the All-India Football Federation (AIFF), despite their rankings being below the top eight at the time. If the new qualification criteria are strictly enforced, India might face challenges in securing spots in certain disciplines.
Tiwari emphasised that while the primary goal is to introduce a qualification system to manage the number of participants effectively, the OCA remains open to considering special requests from nations.
“If there are special requests from countries, including India, we will certainly consider them. However, the primary focus will be on implementing a fair and manageable qualification process,” he said.
The move to streamline the Asian Games comes as part of a broader effort by the OCA to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the event. With the upcoming Games in Nagoya, Japan, the OCA is working closely with each federation to reduce the number of sports and events, aiming to strike a balance between inclusivity and manageability.