Alarmed by reports that top players from disciplines like badminton and football could give next month's South Asian Games a miss, the Sports Ministry today directed the respective national federations to ensure that full-strength squads are fielded at the regional showpiece.
The Ministry has written a letter to the three federations asking them to ensure participation of top players.
Interestingly, Hockey India, one of the federations to which the Ministry's letter has gone, has already announced its teams for the Games and has rested senior players in both the men's and women's squads.
The football and badminton teams for the February 5 to 16 event are still to be announced.
"The Ministry has written a letter to all these federations to ensure that top players are there at the Games. Since India is hosting, the Ministry wants that the country's top talent is there on display," a source told PTI.
Boxing and squash are among the disciplines which will have participation from top athletes at the mega-event to be held in Guwahati and Shillong.
