The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced stricter qualification standards for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan compared to the government's criteria. AFI aims to improve upon the 29 medals won in the previous games by setting higher benchmarks, often requiring fifth or fourth-place finishes from past games instead of the government's stipulated sixth-place standard. These updated marks were developed after extensive discussions with coaches and athletes to ensure competitiveness and avoid sending underperforming participants.