New Delhi: The Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has granted approval for the Indian men’s and women’s football teams to participate in the Asian Games 2023, set to be held in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, from September 23 to October 8.
After months of speculation, the decision came as the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports decided to relax the criteria that determined which national sports federations could send their teams to the Games on government funding.
Previously, the ministry communicated a strict rule to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and other national sports federations, stating that only those sports teams ranking up to eighth among participating Asian countries in the past year would be considered for participation in the Asian Games.
However, the Indian men’s football team is currently ranked 18th in Asia, while the women’s team stands at 11th in the rankings amongst AFC nations. Due to this criterion, both teams were ineligible for participation. Nonetheless, considering their recent performances, the ministry decided to grant them the necessary relaxation.
Indian sports minister Anurag Thakur expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, “The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has decided to relax the rules to facilitate participation of both the teams, which were not qualifying as per the existing criterion. Keeping in mind their performances in recent times, the Ministry decided to grant the relaxation.”
This development marks an important milestone for Indian football, which has seen an unprecedented rise in recent years. All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey hailed the decision as a testament to their commitment to developing the sport in India, and he believes it will significantly boost the players’ morale in upcoming events.
The Indian men’s football team has a rich history at the Asian Games, having secured gold medals at the New Delhi 1951 and Jakarta 1962 editions, along with a bronze at Bangkok 1970. However, their performance in subsequent editions has witnessed a decline.
If all goes as planned, Hangzhou 2023 will be the 16th Asian Games appearance for the Indian men’s team, which recently won the SAFF Championship and Inter-Continental Cup, showcasing their potential and determination.
On the other hand, the Indian women’s football team has participated in only two Asian Games editions to date, finishing eighth at Bangkok 1998 and ninth at Incheon 2014. The inclusion of women’s football in the Asian Games started in 1990, while men’s football has been a part of the continental event since its inception in 1951.
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