Hyderabad: For the first time, 20th Asian Games (XX Asiad) in Japan will see three South Central Railway (SCR) employees donning the India jersey in Kabaddi with the tournament.Adding to this, Ritu Negi, who represented India at the 2018 and 2023 Asian Games is also from SCR. The 20th Asian Games, featuring 43 sports and athletes from 45 countries, will be held from September 21 to 26 in Tokyo, Japan.The selected players from the zone include Ritu Negi, office superintendent/ senior material manager’s office, electric locoshed, Lallaguda, Pinky Roy, chief workshop manager’s office, Mettuguda, Ayan Lohchab and Sumit Sangwan, both commercial-cum-ticket clerks at Sr. divisional commercial manager’s office, Secunderabad.For Pinky Roy, selection for the Asian Games camp is the culmination of a long journey marked by setbacks, sacrifice and perseverance. A railway sportsperson, she has been balancing her official duties with intensive training sessions in her pursuit of an India jersey.Roy took up kabaddi during her school days in 2008-09 after her sports teacher spotted her potential and encouraged her to pursue the sport seriously. Her participation in the Indian Railways National Camp subsequently helped her develop as a competitive player.Her journey, however, has been far from smooth. In 2019, she was selected for the South Asian Games camp but had to withdraw after undergoing knee surgery. In 2024, she earned a place in the World Cup camp but missed the final squad. “It is not only my dream, but also the dream of my late parents and my family to represent India at an international event,” Roy said.For Negi, the Asian Games will be another chapter in an international career. Hailing from Himachal Pradesh, the 34-year-old railway employee is a two-time Asian Games participant, having competed in 2018 and 2023.An Arjuna Award winner, she also captained the Indian women’s kabaddi team at the 2025 World Cup. Negi said the support extended by the railways had played an important role in helping athletes balance their sporting careers with their official responsibilities.SCR general manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava congratulated the SCR players on their selection. He appreciated their achievements in the field of sports and expressed confidence that they will excel at the international platform and bring laurels to the country as well as Indian railways and also to the zone.
