NEW DELHI: With the indian soccer team not meeting the Ministry of Sports criteria to be among the top 8 teams in Asia, they are likely to miss the next Hangzhou Games.
This will be the second time in a row that the Indian team will not participate in the asian games.
The team is currently ranked 18th among Asian Football Confederation nations.
The Football Association of India (AIFF) had previously scheduled senior national team head coach Igor Stimac to take an Under-23 side to the Asian Games from September 23-October 8 following the Kings Cup in Thailand (September 7-10).
Since 2002, football at the Asian Games has been an U-23 affair with three players above that age also allowed in a squad.
In a letter sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all National Sports Federations (NSF), the Ministry of Sports said that “for team events, only sports that have achieved a ranking up to the eighth place among participating countries from Asia in the last year should be considered for participation in the Asian Games”.
The AIFF said it would ask the Sports Ministry to reconsider the decision.
“It is a decision taken by the government, so we have to abide by it. However, we will appeal to the government to reconsider the decision as far as football is concerned,” said AIFF General Secretary, Shaji Prabhakaran, at PTI.
“The performance of the Indian team this year has been extremely encouraging. It will be a big boost for football, especially for the U-23 boys, if they get the opportunity to play in the Asian Games.”
The IOA had refused to authorize the Indian football team for the 2018 Asian Games on the grounds that they were not ranked in the top 8 in Asia.
There is a provision in the instructions from the Ministry of Sports to the IOA and NSF, which could give a ray of hope to the AIFF led by Kalyan Chaubey.
“Where, in the opinion of experts of specific sports disciplines and the Sports Authority of India, the participation of individuals and teams in the relaxation of the above criteria is recommended with justifiable reasons, the same will be reviewed at the ministry for proper decision,” the ministry letter read.
(With PTI entries)
This will be the second time in a row that the Indian team will not participate in the asian games.
The team is currently ranked 18th among Asian Football Confederation nations.
The Football Association of India (AIFF) had previously scheduled senior national team head coach Igor Stimac to take an Under-23 side to the Asian Games from September 23-October 8 following the Kings Cup in Thailand (September 7-10).
Since 2002, football at the Asian Games has been an U-23 affair with three players above that age also allowed in a squad.
In a letter sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all National Sports Federations (NSF), the Ministry of Sports said that “for team events, only sports that have achieved a ranking up to the eighth place among participating countries from Asia in the last year should be considered for participation in the Asian Games”.
The AIFF said it would ask the Sports Ministry to reconsider the decision.
“It is a decision taken by the government, so we have to abide by it. However, we will appeal to the government to reconsider the decision as far as football is concerned,” said AIFF General Secretary, Shaji Prabhakaran, at PTI.
“The performance of the Indian team this year has been extremely encouraging. It will be a big boost for football, especially for the U-23 boys, if they get the opportunity to play in the Asian Games.”
The IOA had refused to authorize the Indian football team for the 2018 Asian Games on the grounds that they were not ranked in the top 8 in Asia.
There is a provision in the instructions from the Ministry of Sports to the IOA and NSF, which could give a ray of hope to the AIFF led by Kalyan Chaubey.
“Where, in the opinion of experts of specific sports disciplines and the Sports Authority of India, the participation of individuals and teams in the relaxation of the above criteria is recommended with justifiable reasons, the same will be reviewed at the ministry for proper decision,” the ministry letter read.
(With PTI entries)
