Govt. of India allows Indian Football Teams' participation in Asian Games 2023

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports relaxed the rules to facilitate participation in Asian Games.

The Indian National football teams have been given the green light to participate at the 2023 Asian Games to be held in China later this year. The Sports ministry has finally reached a positive conclusion after numerous consultations and have decided to send the Blue Tigers to China.

This comes in after the Sports Ministry refused to send the football teams citing their lower rankings as the reason. However, after a lot of requests from the fans and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Blue Tigers have been given the green light.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur tweeted on Wednesday to convey the decision.

"Good news for Indian football lovers! Our national football teams, both Men’s and Women’s, are set to participate in the upcoming Asian Games. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has decided to relax the rules to facilitate participation of both the teams, which were not qualifying as per the existing criterion. Keeping in mind their latest performances in the 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."

What led to his landmark decision?

The national team is currently undergoing a purple patch with almost everything going their way. The Blue Tigers have had an extraordinary summer having won three trophies in three tournaments on their home soil.

India won the Tri-Nation Cup back in March by defeating Myanmar and a highly ranked Kyrgyz Republic in Imphal before winning the Hero Intercontinental Cup in Bhubaneshwar and the 2023 SAFF Championship in Bengaluru.

And just as things seemed to have started falling in place for Indian Football, the Sports Ministry had disallowed both the men's and women’s football teams from participating at the 2023 Asian Games to be held in China from September to October.

The ministry issued a circular that stated that only national teams ranked within the top eight in Asia will be allowed to take part in the Asian Games. And unfortunately, the men’s team is currently ranked 18th in Asia while the women’s sit at the 11th spot in the AFC rankings.

According to reports, the decision to not send the national team to Asian Games was taken mainly by the Indian Olympic Association’s President PT Usha because of her differences with AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey who is also the IOA’s joint secretary and acting CEO.

As soon as the news was released that the ministry had refused to send India’s entry due to their low ranking in Asia, fans took to social media handles and expressed their concern and anger.

Social Media protests started with hashtag campaigns on a large scale. And not just that, India’s head coach Igor Stimac wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to allow his boys to participate at the Asian Games.

Former Indian internations IM Vijayan, Bhaichung Butia, Subrata Paul and many others also took to social media to request the sports ministry to allow India to participate. And after so many requests from both fans and higher dignitaries, the Blue Tigers have been granted permission to fly to China to participate at the Asian games.