New Delhi: Minister of Sports Mansukh Mandaviya made it clear on Thursday that the Asian games The contingent in September will be limited to 600 athletes and only those who can deliver in the continental showpiece will be eligible to make the trip to Japan.While it is clear that the Asian Games are not the right avenue for “exposure tours”, Mandaviya told the media that the policy of selection processes being filmed and monitored by independent observers has proved crucial. Subsequently, athletes who are in the top six in continental rankings will be eligible. Such a cut off denied Indian football teams from being eligible for the Games in Aichi-Nagoya.“The Asian Games is not an exhibition tour, it is a platform for athletes to make the country proud with their best performance. So, as I have repeatedly stated, only those who can deliver will travel,” he said.“Exposure can be obtained elsewhere. It should not be the Asian Games. Anyone who seeks to secure employment through certificates of participation will not be disappointed. The Games are about performance and we must ensure that,” he continued.Ministry behind Anush Agarwala‘On the same platform, Mandaviya shed light on the ever-controversial selection process that precedes multi-sport events. This time, paddler Manika Batra and Equestrian Anush Agarwalla created furore over his non-selection.While Batra questioned the process itself, Agarwalla filed a petition in the Delhi High Court after the ad-hoc committee of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) decided to leave him out. After the Delhi HC rejected the plea, it was heard by a Division Bench.According to a source, the Sports Ministry supports its inclusion despite the initial legal battle.The Delhi HC had rejected the petitions of Agarwalla and Sudipti Hajela who objected to the calculation of the Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER), the interpretation of the selection criteria, the absence of additional selection processes and had made allegations of bias in the selection committee.The Ministry of Sports has made it clear that the lists published by the National Sports Federations (NSFs) after conducting processes “represent only the list of the federation recommended/selected by its internal selection process”.“Such a list does not constitute the final Indian contingent approved by the Government,” the Ministry source clarified.“The names recommended by the NSF remain subject to scrutiny by the IOA, examination by SAI and final approval by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.”“…only those athletes, coaches and support staff whose names are included in the Sanction Order issued by MYAS (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports) will be treated as members of the official Indian contingent for the Asian Games,” the source added.