Igor Stimac appeals to PM Modi regarding the participation of Indian football team in Hangzhou Asian Games
New Delhi. India head coach Igor Stimac on Monday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to represent the national football team in the upcoming Asian Games despite not meeting the selection criteria. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had planned that under Stimac’s guidance, the Under-23 team would take part in the Asian Games starting on September 23. The Indian football team, however, does not meet the Sports Ministry’s eligibility to be among the top eight teams, due to which it is likely to stay out of the continental competition.
Stimac wrote in a long post on social media, “I would like to bring to your attention that our U-17 team of 2017, which performed brilliantly in the U-23 World Cup qualifiers and is a very talented team, will now be represented in the Asian Games. Apart from Modi, Stimac also appealed to Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. Stimac wrote, “This team desperately needs to play in the tournament and deserves it. The reasons cited are unwarranted and as the coach of the Indian National Team, I feel it is important that this matter is immediately brought to the notice of you and Hon’ble Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
“So that you can intervene and help represent the team in the Asian Games,” he said. India is currently ranked 18th among Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nations. Croatian coach Stimac wrote, “Our own ministry is denying participation in terms of rankings while the fact is that our football team is on a better ranking than some of the other sports teams that were allowed to participate in the Asian Games.” He said, “History and statistics also bear witness to the fact that football is a game where the lower-ranked team has a chance to beat the top-ranked team.”
In a letter sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all National Sports Federations (NSFs), the Sports Ministry said, “For team events only those sports should be considered for inclusion which have brought laurels to the participating countries in Asia.” Beach has made it to the top eight in the last one year.” Since 2002, an under-23 football team has taken part in the Asian Games, while three players above this age are also allowed to be included in the team. He said, “India hosted the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 and invested a lot in grooming the next generation of great players.”
Stimac said, “You have always supported India’s dream of playing in the FIFA World Cup one day and I am sure if the kind of support you have received so far continues, the day is not far when We will take part in the most prestigious tournaments globally. “As a national team, we have worked very hard in the last four years and have achieved some excellent results which prove that if we get the support of all the stakeholders, There is a provision in the Sports Ministry’s instructions sent to the IOA and NSFs that may give a ray of hope to the football team. “If in the opinion of the experts of the specific sports and the Sports Authority of India, for appropriate reasons, the participation of individual players and teams is recommended with relaxation of the above criteria (exemption in the top eight), then appropriate decisions will be taken,” the ministry’s letter said. For that the ministry will consider it.
Modi had said only last week that French footballer Kylian Mbappe is a “superhit” among the youth in India and the World Cup-winning team player is probably known to more people in India than in France. Stimac wrote, “Your speech about football and Mbappé in your recent visit to France impressed all Indians who dream and encourage Indian football.” The coach concluded, “So It is my humble appeal and sincere request to you on behalf of the entire Indian football fraternity to kindly allow our football team to participate in the Asian Games.
