Para Asian Games 2026: Shooters Allege Corruption and Extortion in Selection Process, Seek Independent Probe

New Delhi, Oct 7: Ahead of the 2026 Para Asian Games, para-shooters have called for an urgent independent inquiry into alleged financial corruption, extortion and manipulation in the selection process. This has prompted the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) to reject the charges and maintain that the team was selected strictly on merit.

In a representation submitted to the Director General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday, the shooters alleged "illicit monetary extortion", "brazen corruption" and violations of Sports Ministry guidelines by PCI officials and its Shooting Technical Committee (STC) during the selection process for the Aichi-Nagoya Para Asian Games, scheduled from October 18 to 24.

The representation alleged that athletes were being pressured to pay 20 per cent of their government-sanctioned cash awards as a condition for selection. The shooters also accused officials of manipulating international quota places and qualifying scores to favour certain athletes.

They further claimed that international wild-card slots were allocated on financial considerations rather than rankings and performances. According to the representation, two of the 15 international quota places available to India were surrendered after the next-ranked athletes allegedly refused to meet the financial demands.

The shooters also alleged that prescribed Sports Ministry criteria were disregarded, qualifying scores were manipulated and an earlier selection panel was replaced without recorded justification. Questions were also raised over the appointment of an individual as a technical expert and Director of Operations despite, according to the representation, having no record of competing in an official shooting event.

Sandeep Kumar, a P4 50m free pistol SH1 shooter ranked third in Asia, alleged bias in the selection process. He claimed Rudrankksh Khandelwal, ranked 14th in Asia, was selected ahead of Akash, the Asian No. 1, and himself.

PCI president Devendra Jhajharia, however, strongly rejected the allegations, saying the selections were made according to the prescribed criteria and Sports Ministry guidelines.
"There has been no discrimination against anyone. The selections are 100 per cent fair," Jhajharia said, quoted by the PTI. The PCI president also dismissed Sandeep's allegation that he was dropped in favour of a shooter linked to the coach as "false".

Furthermore, according to PTI, citing a Sports Ministry source, the genuine grievances would be addressed properly, but the source noted that the Para Asian Games team had already been finalised and could not be altered at this stage. The shooters have warned that they may approach the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution if their allegations are not addressed.