July 18th 2023.
India's Head Coach, Igor Stimac, has pleaded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to intervene and allow the national football team to participate in the upcoming Asian Games.
The All India Football Federation had planned to take an Under-23 side to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, scheduled to start from September 23. But, due to the Sports Ministry's criteria of being ranked among the top-8 teams, the Indian football team is set to miss the event.
Stimac pointed out that the same U-17 team from 2017, which had performed well at the U-23 World Cup qualifiers, is now being deprived of the Asian Games. He argued that the team deserves to participate and the reasons given for not allowing them are unjust.
The Croatian further noted that the Indian football team is better ranked than some of the other sports teams which have been allowed to participate in the Asian Games. He also highlighted that in the sport of football, a lower ranked team has a chance to beat the top ranked teams. India is currently ranked 18th among countries under the Asian Football Confederation.
Stimac further reminded Modi about his speech on football and Kylian Mbappe during his recent visit to France. He stated that Mbappe is a 'superhit' among the youth in India and argued that the World Cup winner is probably known to more people in India than France.
The coach concluded his request to the Prime Minister and Sports Minister by saying that the entire Indian football fraternity requests for the participation of the football team in the Asian Games. He also mentioned that if they are allowed to participate, the team will fight for the nation's pride and the flag.
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