NB Explains | Indian football teams to play at Asian Games 2023; How did it happen?
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The return of India's men's and women's football teams to the Asian Games is a historic moment for Indian football. This came after sports minister Anurag Thakur, took to Twitter on Wednesday evening, to announce the "good news for Indian footballer lovers!"
The green signal comes after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports decided to relax its stance on the criteria that decided which national sports federations can send their teams to the Games on government coat.
The rule, earlier relayed to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and other national sports federations by the ministry, stated that "for team events, only those sports teams 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".
Good news for Indian football lovers!
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) July 26, 2023
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 participation of both the…
The Indian men’s football team is currently ranked 18th in Asia and has been nowhere close to the top eight in the continent in the past year. The same goes for the women’s team, which is currently 11th in the rankings amongst AFC nations.
Rules relaxed
“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,” Indian sports minister Anurag Thakur said.
"Keeping in mind their performances in recent times, the Ministry decided to grant the relaxation."
The IOA had refused to clear the Indian football teams from playing at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta based on the same ranking criteria.
"It’s indeed an important day for Indian football and a testament to our resolution to develop the sport in India," All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey said. “Indian football has been on an unprecedented rise recently, and I believe this impetus will further boost our players’ morale in all upcoming events.”
The Indian women’s team, meanwhile, has played in only two Asian Games editions so far, finishing eighth at Bangkok 1998 and ninth at Incheon 2014. Women’s football debuted at the Asian Games in 1990 while men’s football has been a part of the continental event since the inaugural edition in 1951.
Continuous efforts by the Federation
On July 20, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey met Thakur and made a presentation to the Sports Ministry, apprising them about the federation's outlook for Indian football and the future the sport boasts.
Had the opportunity to meet Sh @ianuragthakur ji Hon Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs, today evening to apprise him on #IndianFootball & discuss the scope.@indianfootball pic.twitter.com/NenaWXMLKQ
— Kalyan Chaubey (@kalyanchaubey) July 20, 2023
Apart from this the men's coach Igor Stimac had also written to PM Narendra Modi and Thakur addressing the issue.
A humble appeal and sincere request to Honourable Prime Minister Sri @narendramodi ji and Hon. Sports Minister @ianuragthakur, to kindly allow our football team to participate in the Asian games 🙏🏽
— Igor Štimac (@stimac_igor) July 17, 2023
We will fight for our nation’s pride and the flag! 🇮🇳
Jai Hind!#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/wxGMY4o5TN
India at Asian Games
The Indian men’s football team won gold medals at the New Delhi 1951 and Jakarta 1962 Asian Games and clinched a bronze at Bangkok 1970. However, India’s performances at the continental meet have been on a downslide since then.
If everything pans out, Hangzhou 2023 will be the 16th Asian Games appearance for the Indian men’s team which won the SAFF Championship and Inter-Continental Cup in recent months.