Asian Karate Champion Alisha Chaudhary Left Out of Asian Games 2026 Squad, Appeals to IOA

The Indian Sports Associations for Karate and Handball are recognized by their respective international federations, but the Sports Ministry and the IOA have not granted them recognition, a result of which the athletes of these sports are suffering directly. Alisha says that she went to the IOA on June 29th. She pleaded that she was an Asian champion and should be sent to the Asian Games, but was told that she could not go. Alisha also won bronze at the Asian Championships last year. Following this performance, she and Bhuvaneshwari were also included in the Target Asian Games (Tag). Despite this, they are not being sent.

Akshay Maharabhushanam, who finished seventh in the Asian Championship last year, has moved the court over not being sent to the Asian Games. According to Akshay, the IOA has told the court that the name of the Karate team has not been sent in the long list. Sources reveal that the names of Karate and Handball are also not in the short list being sent to the organizers of the Asian Games. Karate Federation President Bharat Sharma says that Alisha will create history in the Asian Games. She should be sent to Japan at all costs. The handball team is currently playing in the Junior World Championship at its own expense. The women's handball team fulfils the Sports Ministry's criteria for playing in the Asian Games.