Nepal’s top swimmers accuse association of changing Asian Games selection criteria mid-event

Nepal's leading swimmers, Ervin Shrestha, Medhavi KC, and Nirnay Thapa, have publicly accused the Nepal Swimming Association (NSA) of bias and manipulating selection criteria for the 2026 Asian Games. At a press conference in Kathmandu, the athletes detailed how the association transformed a pre-qualification event into the primary qualifier for the games, allegedly without adequate notice.

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The championship [taking place on June 6 and 7] is mandatory for athletes in order to advance to the Final Selection Round.

The controversy stems from a notice issued on May 21, which designated the third Nepal Aquatics Championship as a pre-qualification event. This meant athletes had to participate to advance to a final selection round later in June. However, the NSA issued another notice on June 7, changing the championship itself into the main qualification event. This shift occurred after the National Sports Council (NSC) had urged the NSA to submit the final list of swimmers within five days, creating a rushed and confusing process.

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The rules were clear from the beginning. We prepared for the competition based on those criteria. In the end, our hard work went in vain.

Adding to the swimmers' grievances, electronic touchpads were reportedly not used for timing on the opening day of the championship, with officials relying on handheld stopwatches. Ervin Shrestha argued that the association's justifications for the change were illogical, given the ample time remaining to submit the final list to the Asian Games organizers. "The rules were clear from the beginning," Shrestha stated. "We prepared for the competition based on those criteria. In the end, our hard work went in vain."

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The association violated the very criteria it had set itself. Athletes are expected to follow every rule and regulation, but the governing body has ignored its own selection process.

The swimmers have escalated the dispute to the Supreme Court, seeking an independent investigation into the matter. The court has summoned the NSA, the NSC, and the Nepal Olympic Committee to provide written responses, with a hearing scheduled. Medhavi KC emphasized that their protest is not against any selected athletes but against the perceived unfairness of the process. "Whoever gets selected is our teammate," KC said. "Our only demand is that the selection be conducted according to the pre-announced criteria and in a transparent manner."

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Whoever gets selected is our teammate. Our only demand is that the selection be conducted according to the pre-announced criteria and in a transparent manner.