Indian football team will not be able to participate in Asian Games for the second time in a row

The Indian football team is likely to skip the Asian Games for the second time in a row as it does not meet the Sports Ministry’s criteria of being ranked among the top eight in the continent. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had earlier planned that national senior team head coach Igor Stimac would skip the King’s Cup in Thailand (September 7-10) followed by the September 23-October 8 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. I will take the under-23 team. Since 2002, only under-23 players are sent to the Asian Games football competition, in which three players above this age are also allowed to be included in the team.

In a letter sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and National Sports Federations (NSFs), the Sports Ministry has said, “for each team event, only those sports in which the team has participated in the preceding one year from participating countries in Asia.” Only those who have secured a ranking up to top eight in the Asian Games should be considered for participation in the Asian Games. India is nowhere close to the top eight in the Asian rankings. The Indian team is currently ranked 18th in the rankings under the Asian Football Confederation. The AIFF said it would appeal to the Sports Ministry to reconsider the decision. AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran told PTI, “It is a decision taken by the government.

That’s why we have to follow it. But we would appeal to the government to reconsider this decision as far as football is concerned. ,He said, “The performance of the Indian team this year has been very inspiring. It will be a huge morale booster for football, especially for the U-23 footballers, if they get a chance to play in the Asian Games. The IOA refused to sanction the Indian football team for the 2018 Asian Games on the ground that it was not ranked among the top eight in Asia then.