Indian Football Team Set To Miss Asian Games Again. Here's Why

16.07.2023 - 05:29 sports.ndtv.com

The Indian football team is likely to miss 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-8 sides in the continent.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had earlier planned that the national senior team head coach Igor Stimac would take an Under-23 side to the September 23 to October 8 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China after the Kings Cup in Thailand (September 7-10).

Since 2002, football in Asian Games has been an U-23 affair with three players above that age are also permitted in a team. In a letter sent to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all the National Sports Federations (NSFs), the Sports Ministry has said that "for team events, only those sports which have achieved a ranking up to eighth among participating countries of Asia in the last one year should be considered for participation in Asian Games".

India is nowhere close to the top-8 in Asia in the rankings. It is currently in the 18th spot among countries under the Asian Football Confederation.

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