208-member contingent for Asian Beach Games

New Delhi, Sep 20: The Indian Olympic Association on Tuesday announced that it would send a contingent of 208 members to participate in the 5th Asian Beach Games starting from September 24, 2016, at Da Nang, Vietnam.

The athletes will participate in a total of 13 disciplines which include swimming, kabaddi, handball, hurash, Pencak Silat, sambo, ju-jitsu, woodball, sepaktaklaw, pentaque, shuttlecock, voninam and Muay Thai.

The IOA is sending a larger contingent this year as compared to the last Games held in Phuket in Thailand 2014 where about 117 Indian athletes participated.

The Asian Games held in 2014 in Phuket saw India take home two gold medals, one silver medal and seven bronze medals. 

In the overall medal tally, India stands at a world rank nine, with a total of 10 gold medals, one silver medal and 11 bronze medals. This time around, with a much larger contingent India is hoping to get more medals. 

The athletes have started departing for Vietnam, where the Games are held this year.

IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said: "We are sending a bigger contingent this time for the Asian Beach Games. I wish them all the very best for the games. We are expecting India to win maximum medals this year, and also improve their overall medal tally."