Igor Stimac seeks PM Narendra Modi's help for participation in Asian Games

The Indian National team have been ruled out of the upcoming Asian Games.

The Indian national team head coach Igor Stimac took to social media, to request Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to allow the Indian National teams to participate in the upcoming Asian Games.  

While it was earlier decided by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), that the national senior team head coach Igor Stimac would take an U-23 side to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China after the King's Cup in Thailand (September 7-10), it was later revealed that the nation’s participation would be compromised, as it fails to meet the criteria of being ranked among the top-8 sides in the continent.

Igor Stimac’s request

Following the Sports Ministry’s decision, Igor Stimac took it to twitter on the 17th of July, and made a ‘humble appeal and sincere request’ to Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.

In his tweet, Igor firstly extended his sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister, for his constant support to the national team. “You have always supported India's dream of playing in the FIFA World Cup one day and I am certain that if we have your continuous support in the manner we have received till date, the day is not far when we will be at the global stage participating in the most prestigious tournaments. We as a national team have worked extremely hard in the last 4 years and managed some great results, proving that we can achieve more if we get the support from all stakeholders,” he stated in his tweet.

Igor Stimac then went on to express his discontent with the National team’s expulsion from the Asian Games, and even went on to state the decision taken by the Ministry as ‘unjust’.

“I wanted to bring to your immediate attention that our U-17 team from 2017, which also gave a great performance at the U-23 World Cup qualifiers and is one very talented team, is now being deprived from participating in the Asian games. This team really needs and deserves the participation. The reasons given are unjust and as India's national team coach, I felt it's important to immediately bring this matter to your and the Hon'ble Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's knowledge. So that you could intervene and help the team participate in the Asian Games,” he mentioned.

Lastly, he pleaded the PM and the Sports Minister to kindly intervene, and allow the National team’s participation, and pointed out valid reasons as to why the Indian football team should be granted concession in order to participate in the Asian Games.

“There are hopes and prayers of 1 billion Indians for the beautiful game and we need such participation, as our own ministry is denying participation on the context of ranking. Whereas the fact is that our football team is better ranked than some of the other sports teams which have been allowed participation in the Asian games. Also history and statistics are testimony to the fact that football is one sport where a lower ranked team has a chance to beat the top ranked teams.”

“So my humble appeal and sincere request on behalf of the entire Indian Football fraternity to you, to kindly allow our football team to participate in the Asian Games. We will fight for our nation's pride and the flag! Jai Hind!” he stated.