The latest breaking news for all the football fans across India is that the Indian men’s and women’s football teams have finally received the much-anticipated nod to participate in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, which is right around the corner.
Indian football teams to play at 2023 Asian Games
This has only been possible after the Ministry of Sports decided the ease the selection criteria already in existence.
Previously the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had received country-wide backlash after they had declined the clearance for the Indian football teams to participate in the upcoming Asian Games, their reasoning being that the teams were ranking out of top-8 in Asia.
As a result, an earnest appeal was made by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) tot Sports Ministry which revolved around requesting and convincing them for a permission for both the women’s and men’s teams to represent the nation in the prestigious tournament in China.
In a stunning move, Igor Stimac, who is the coach to Indian men’s football squad made a request to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked for his intervention to resolve the serious matter swiftly.
Sports Ministry relaxes rules for Indian football teams’ participation
Sports minister Anurag Thakur has now taken to Twitter to make a statement that there was a good news for the Indian football lovers since our national football teams of both women and men are all set to go and compete in the upcoming Asian Games.
His announcement included the fact that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of Government of India has finally decided after loads of public appeal to relax the rules for the felicitation of both teams’ participation, who were not able to qualify as per the previously existing criteria.
“Keeping in mind their latest performances in the 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,” was added to the official statement.
According to the previous criteria, only the top-8 teams in the continental rankings were allowed to participate in the tournament. The men’s team is ranked 18th, on the other hand, the women’s team stands at the 11th position.
