Asian Games Ministry Clears 804-Member contingent, will pay for 755

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry has cleared a 804-member Indian contingent, including 572 athletes, for the Asian Games but said it will bear the expense of 755 members with 49 out of 232 officials allowed at no cost to government. The Ministry cleared all the athletes and officials recommended by the Indian Olympic Association with the only rider being that only 49 officials can be part of the contingent at the cost of their respective federations. The government will bear the cost of 572 athletes, 183 officials, 119 coaches and 21 doctors and physiotherapists and 43 other extra officials. Out of the 572 athletes cleared to take part in 36 sports, 312 are men while the rest 260 are women. The government refused to bear the cost of all the 26 managers named in the list submitted by the IOA. Three coaches and 20 other extra officials were also cleared at no cost to the government. The long protracted process of naming of the Indian contingent and subsequent clearance by the ministry thus came to an end without any major tussle between the government and the IOA, which had submitted its list on Monday.