Asian Games 2023: Sports Ministry allows Indian Football Teams to participate by relaxing qualification rules

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There is good news for Indian Football fans as the national men's and women's teams are set to travel to Hangzhou, China, for the upcoming Asian Games 2023 in September.

The Sports Ministry on Wednesday (July 26) accepted the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and national men's football team head coach Igor Stimac's request to allow the teams to participate in the continental multi-sporting competition.

Modi Government Makes Exception For Indian Football

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, took to his Twitter handle on July 26 to apprise the fans about Central Government's decision to relax the qualification rules for Indian football. Thakur wrote, "Good news for Indian football lovers! Our national football teams, both Men's and Women's, are set to participate in the upcoming Asian Games.

"The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has decided to relax the rules to facilitate the participation of both the teams, which were not qualifying as per the existing criterion." It's hard to hate irascible Igor Stimac - Fans back India head coach as their own

The Indian football team wasn't for the Asian Games because of the Sports Ministry's regulation which states that a team sport which ranks among the top eight in the continent may only warrant a green signal to participate in the tournament.

A letter sent to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all the National Sports Federations (NSFs) from the Indian sports ministry said, "For team events, only those sports which have achieved a ranking up to eighth among participating countries of Asia in the last one year should be considered for participation in Asian Games".

Indian men's team is currently ranked 18th amongst football teams in Asia, which denies them the opportunity to play in the tournament. However, the AIFF urged the ministry to make an exception claiming the decision will be for the betterment of Indian football.

Thakur, in his tweet, remarked that the government took the decision keeping in mind the latest performance of the national football teams on the international stage. Indian men's football team won the Intercontinental Cup in Bhubaneswar and SAFF Championship in Bengaluru in late June and early July.

"Keeping in mind their latest performances in recent times, the Ministry decided to grant the relaxation. I am sure they will put their best foot forward in the Asian Games and make our country proud," he wrote further. India coach Igor Stimac sensationally pleads Narendra Modi for Asian Games 2023 inclusion

AIFF president and IOA member Kalyan Chaubeyalso took to his Twitter handle and wrote that Sports Ministry & IOA have confirmed Indian Football teams' participation at Asian Games. He even thanked PM Narendra Modi, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and Govt of India for their support.

AIFF had already identified a pool of 40 players, comprising mostly under-23s, to take part in the quadrennial multi-sporting event. The national football body also has plans to appoint senior team coach Igor Stimac for the tournament.