NB Explains | Why is the Indian football team not part of the Asian Games 2023?

The 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China might not include the Indian football team after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) opted against sending a team. This came as the Indian football teams fail to meet Sports Ministry's criteria of being ranked among the Top 8 in Asia.

 

 

The All India Football Federation will appeal the decision, with Indian men's football team head coach Igor Stimac also reaching out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to intervene in the matter.

 

The Indian men's team is currently ranked 18th in Asia and 100th in the FIFA World Rankings after a successful couple of months that saw India lift the InterContinental Cup and the SAFF Championships at home. Meanwhile, The present ranking of the Indian women's team according to the FIFA Women's World Rankings is 60 and the 10th-best team in Asia.

 

With only 10 days to go until the draw for the 2023 Asian Games is made on July 27, the respective sporting authorities will have to make a quick decision if India are to make an appearance.

 

 

The Sports Ministry had already conveyed to member federations that "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."

 

This is a continuation of their policy from the 2018 Asian Games, when the AIFF were denied the chance to send a team while being ranked 14th in Asia at that time.

 

Top 20 countries usually field teams in the Asian Games - which is an U-23 competition since 2002 - with India the lone holdout in 2018 and probably once more in 2023.

 

However, there is a way out as Sports Ministry also has a clause allowing for exceptions to it's top-8 rule - "Where, in the opinion of the experts of specific sports disciplines, and that of Sports Authority of India, participation of individuals and teams in relaxation of the above criteria (top 8) is recommended with justifiable reasons, the same will be considered in the Ministry for appropriate decision."

 

 

Coach Stimac's plea touched upon the fact that India's team from the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup received great investment in their development, and "gave a great performance at the U-23 World Cup qualifiers and is one very talented team."

 

"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 🙏🏽 We will fight for our nation’s pride and the flag! 🇮🇳Jai Hind!" he tweeted while sharing a letter.

 

 

 

India are the third-most successful team in Asian Games men's football, winning gold twice (1951, 1960) and bronze once (1970). The women's team have featured only twice in eight editions and have not stood on the podium.

 

India's most recent appearance in 2014 (when their FIFA ranking was in the 150s) saw them finish 26th out of 29 teams in the men's contest, while the women's team finished 9th out of 11 teams.