Athletics

Para-shooters allege corruption in Asian Games selection

October 8, 2026

A group of Indian para-shooters has accused officials of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and its Shooting Technical Committee (STC) of demanding illegal payments and manipulating selection criteria for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Para Asian Games, set to take place from October 18 to 24. The athletes claim they were pressured to hand over 20% of their government cash awards as a prerequisite for national team selection, with two of the 15 available international quota spots reportedly surrendered after athletes refused such demands.

Allegations also include arbitrary changes to qualifying scores, disregard for Sports Ministry guidelines, and the replacement of the selection panel without justification. Top-ranked shooter Sandeep Kumar, currently third in Asia in the P4 50m free pistol SH1 category, criticized the selection process, stating that lower-ranked shooter Rudrankksh Khandelwal was chosen ahead of him and Asian No.

1 Akash, despite his higher standing. The shooters have formally requested an independent investigation into what they describe as systemic corruption and extortion within the selection process.

PCI president Devendra Jhajharia has denied the allegations, insisting the team was selected fairly according to established rules and rejecting claims of bias or favoritism.