Asian Games 2023 / India's team will not be able to participate in the Asian Games! Coach's emotional appeal to PM Modi and Sports Minister

Asian Games 2023: The 19th Asian Games are going to start from September 23 in Hangzhou, China. This time cricket has been included in these games which is going to be the center of attraction. Meanwhile, there is confusion over the participation of the Indian football team. Regarding this, the team's head coach Igor Stimac has written a letter making a passionate appeal to PM Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. He appealed to the PM to intervene in allowing the Indian football team to participate in these games despite not meeting all the criteria for selection eligibility. It is noteworthy that recently in France, PM Modi had mentioned that French football star Kylian Mbappe has more and more fans in India.

Let us tell you that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had planned that under the guidance of Stimac, the Under-23 team would participate in the Asian Games. The Indian football team, however, could not fulfill the Sports Ministry's rule of being included in the top eight team, due to which it is likely to be out of the competition. Addressing PM Modi and the Sports Minister in a long post on social media, Stimak wrote, "I would like to bring to your notice that our U-17 team of 2017, which performed brilliantly in the U-23 World Cup qualifiers and is extremely There is a talented team, it is being denied representation in the Asian Games.

A humble appeal and sincere request to Honourable Prime Minister Sri @narendramodi ji and Hon. Sports Minister @ianuragthakur, 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!#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/wxGMY4o5TN

— Igor Štimac (@stimac_igor) July 17, 2023

Uproar over team ranking

Stimac further wrote in his letter that this team needs to play in the tournament and it deserves it. The reasons cited are unfair and as the coach of the Indian National Team I feel it is important that this matter is immediately brought to the notice of you and Honorable Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. So that you can intervene and help the team represent the Asian Games. The Indian football team is currently ranked 18th among Asian Football Confederation (AFC) countries. Regarding this, Stimac wrote that, our own ministry is denying participation in terms of ranking whereas the fact is that our football team is on better ranking than some of the other sports teams that were allowed to participate in Asian Games. Is.

Stimac also wrote that history and statistics show that football is a game where the lower-ranked team has a chance to beat the top-ranked team. In a letter sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all National Sports Federations (NSFs), the Sports Ministry has said, for team events, only those sports should be considered for inclusion which have won the previous championship among the participating countries in Asia. Made it to the top eight in a year. From the year 2002, the under-23 football team participates in the Asian Games, while three players older than this are also allowed to be included in the team. India hosted the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 and has invested heavily in grooming the next generation of great players.

PM Modi's vision is also mentioned

Referring to the PM's vision of the FIFA World Cup, Stimac wrote that, you have always supported India's dream of playing in the FIFA World Cup one day and I am sure that if the kind of support you have received so far With continued support, the day is not far when we will compete in the most prestigious tournaments globally. As a national team, we have worked very hard in the last four years and have achieved some great results which prove that we can achieve much more if we have the support of all stakeholders.

This provision can raise the hopes of the football team!

Stimac's letter further stated that there is a provision in the Sports Ministry's instructions sent to the IOA and NSFs which may give a ray of hope to the football team. The ministry's letter said that if in the opinion of experts in specific sports and Sports Authority of India, participation of individual sportspersons and teams is recommended for relaxation of the above criteria for good reasons, then the ministry will consider the same for appropriate decision. Referring to the PM's recent visit to France, Stimac wrote that your speech about football and Mbappé in your visit to France impressed all Indians who dream and cheer for Indian football. So it is my humble appeal and sincere request to you on behalf of the entire Indian football world that please allow our football team to participate in the Asian Games.