Asian Games 2026: Yarraji DNS, Chitravel Records No Mark

India’s athletics medal hopes suffered a setback at the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday as Jyothi Yarraji did not start the women’s 100m hurdles and Praveen Chitravel recorded no mark in the men’s triple jump at Paloma Mizuho Stadium.

Yarraji was listed as DNS, meaning Did Not Start, after she was withdrawn from the hurdles. Chitravel did appear at the triple-jump pit and took his first attempt, but pulled out of the competition afterwards. His result was subsequently recorded as NM, or No Mark.

The two withdrawals drew particular attention because both athletes had been viewed as part of India’s medal prospects in athletics. Chitravel is the Indian national record holder in the triple jump and won bronze at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Federation outlines different circumstances

The Athletics Federation of India said Yarraji’s withdrawal came after she felt discomfort during her warm-up for the women’s 100m hurdles. According to the federation, Yarraji had been fit and had trained fully throughout the preparatory camp before the issue arose on competition day.

The coaching team decided to withdraw her as a precaution, with the federation stating that her long-term fitness was the priority. Yarraji later addressed the situation in a social-media statement, saying she had prepared for the event with everything she had but had suffered a hamstring injury.

She added that her team had done everything possible, while acknowledging that not everything in sport is within an athlete’s control.

In Chitravel’s case, the federation said he had completed his full training programme with the Indian team and had not reported an injury or medical concern to team management before or during the competition. The AFI said the decision to withdraw after his first attempt was taken by the athlete himself.

That statement did not specify a reason for Chitravel’s decision to leave the event. He had not publicly spoken on the matter at the time of the report.

The events have raised questions around the condition of athletes selected for the Games. The source reported that Yarraji and Chitravel, along with high jumper Sarvesh Kushare, had been carrying different injury concerns before the Asian Games but were cleared by the AFI selection committee after consultation with doctors.

Chitravel was reported to have had a calf injury, while Yarraji and Kushare were said to be managing niggles. At the same time, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan and men’s 110m hurdler Tejas Shirse were left out of the squad because of fitness concerns.

Enquiry set after athletics withdrawals

Former AFI president Adille Sumariwalla, who is also the federation’s spokesperson, said there would be an enquiry into what happened in the cases involving Yarraji and Chitravel. He described the situation as unacceptable and said someone would have to be answerable.

The matter also comes against the backdrop of a Sports Authority of India medical directive issued before the tournament. The directive stated that attempting to conceal an injury or travelling while half-fit could invite action.

India had already faced an injury-related selection controversy in wushu, where Divyanshi Choudhary was removed from the contingent late after it emerged that she was carrying an injury. Her replacement, Roshibina Devi, went on to win silver in the women’s 60kg sanda event in Aichi-Nagoya.

For Indian athletics, Saturday’s outcomes left Yarraji without a start in her hurdles event and Chitravel without a valid mark in the triple jump. The AFI enquiry is expected to examine how the two situations developed after both athletes had travelled to the Games.