Pakistan's contingent for the Asian Games 2026 has been slashed from 123 to 80 participants — and may shrink further — after the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) ran short of funds and directed federations to either reduce squad sizes or arrange their own financing, according to reports. The Games are scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026.

What the PSB Directed

The PSB has reportedly told all national federations that it is cutting contingent sizes and withdrawing financial support from several athletes, coaches, and support personnel who had already been cleared to participate. “All the Federations have been told by the PSB that we are slashing the contingent size and withdrawing financial support from several athletes, coaches, and support personnel who had already been cleared to participate,” sources said.

The Pakistan Table Tennis Federation has already communicated to its players that they must arrange their own finances if they wish to compete. Similarly, the Pakistan Athletics Federation has seen its allocation cut from 14 athletes to just six.

Root Cause: Hockey Budget Crowding Out Other Sports

Sources indicate the primary driver of the crisis is the outsized budget allocated to hockey. Of the PSB's total budget of approximately Rs. 400 million, around Rs. 250 million was reportedly earmarked for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to cover travel, logistics, and administrative expenses for a domestic league — leaving little for other disciplines heading into the Games.

The recently-appointed PSB Director General Yawar Hussain is said to be in talks with the government to arrange additional funds, but sources note he has limited time and resources to reverse the situation at this stage.

Sports Most Affected

The funding cuts have hit medal-contending disciplines hard. Boxing, kabaddi, shooting, and volleyball — identified as Pakistan's primary medal hopes — have seen contingent reductions. Financial support for wrestling, weightlifting, table tennis, and tennis has been withdrawn altogether, despite prior commitments to those athletes.

The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), which handles athlete accreditation, had already secured accreditation for 123 athletes. Those cleared athletes now face the prospect of being dropped or scrambling for private sponsorship. “The Games give several budding athletes a chance to test their skills, but instead of preparing for the Games, they are now left to seek sponsorship for themselves,” sources said.

Pakistan's Asian Games Record and What Is at Stake

Pakistan has historically been a competitive force at the Asian Games, having won 14 gold, 12 silver, and 13 bronze medals in the Games' history. Boxing alone accounts for six gold, eight silver, and 14 bronze medals from that tally.

At the last edition in Hangzhou, China, Pakistan returned with just one silver — in the men's team squash championship — and two bronze medals in women's shooting (10m air pistol) and kabaddi. A reduced and under-prepared contingent risks an even more muted performance in Aichi-Nagoya.

Notably, Pakistan's cricket team will participate in the 2026 Asian Games but will be funded separately by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), insulating it from the PSB's budget constraints.

Unless additional government funding is secured in the coming days, Pakistan's final contingent is expected to shrink further, potentially marking one of the country's smallest-ever presences at the Asian Games.