Head Coach Stimac’s Wish Fulfilled: Indian Football Teams Cleared For Asian Games

New Delhi: Men’s head coach Igor Stimac’s wish, expressed to none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been fulfilled: the Indian football teams have got the government nod to participate in the upcoming Asian Games at China’s Hangzhou.

Union Sports minister Anurag Thakur confirmed on Wednesday that his ministry has decided to relax qualification criteria to facilitate the participation of both men’s and women’s teams in the quadrennial continental Games.

“The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has decided to relax the rules to facilitate the participation of both the teams, which were not qualifying as per the existing criterion. Keeping in mind their latest performances in recent times, the Ministry decided to grant the relaxation. I am sure they will put their best foot forward in the Asian Games and make our country proud,” Thakur tweeted.

As per norms of the Sports ministry, in team sport, only those in Asia’s top 8 will get an automatic nod for Asian Games. The men’s national football team is currently ranked 18th in Asia, and was hence not eligible to compete in the September 23 to October 8 Games in Hangzhou.

It may be recalled that the Indian football didn’t take part in the previous Asian Games, in Jakarta.

Buoyed by the strong recent performances of Sunil Chhetri & Co. – who lifted the Intercontinental Cup in Bhubaneswar in June and then SAFF Championship at Bengaluru earlier this month – Stimac had written to PM Modi seeking his intervention to ensure India’s Asian Games participation.

India, who have risen to No. 99 in the FIFA world rankings, will face strong competition from the likes of Japan, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the Asian Games.