Asian Games: Indian men’s football team head coach Igor Stimac wrote a heartfelt and emotional note to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, appealing them to allow the Indian team to participate in the upcoming Asian Games in China.
The Indian football team is not playing in the Asian Games for the second consecutive edition as it does not meet the Sports Ministry’s criteria of being among the top 8 teams in the continent. AIFF had shortlisted 40 players for the tournament. Which is for players under the age of 23, with 3 players above the mentioned age allowed in the squad and senior coach Igor has been put in charge of the team.
“A humble appeal and sincere request to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and Hon. Sports Minister @ianuragthakur, please allow our football team to participate in the Asian Games. We will fight for the pride and flag of our country!” Stimak wrote on Twitter, attaching a letter to it.
A humble appeal and sincere request to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Mr. and Hon. sports minister @ianuragthakurPlease allow our football team to participate in the Asian Games 🙏🏽
We will fight for the pride and flag of our nation!
Jai Hind!#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/wxGMY4o5TN— Igor Stimac (@stimac_igor) 17 July 2023
“Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, I am sure if someone would have informed or updated you about the Indian teams participating in the upcoming Asian Games where the most important and premier global sport “Football” team have been debarred from participating and representing the Indian flag,” Stimac wrote in the letter.
“India hosted the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 and has invested heavily in producing a very good new generation of players. You have always supported India’s dream of playing in the FIFA World Cup one day and I am certain that if we have the kind of continuous support we have received till date, the day is not far when we will be the most participating on the global stage. prestigious tournament.
“As a national team, we have worked hard over the last four years and have achieved some great results, proving that we can achieve much more if we have the support of all stakeholders.
“Your speech about football and Mbappe in your recent visit to France impressed all Indians who dream and are interested in Indian football.
“I would like to draw your immediate attention that our U-17 team of 2017, which also performed brilliantly in the U-23 World Cup qualifiers and is a very talented team, is now being denied participation in the Asian Games.