Indian football enthusiasts received a delightful piece of news on Wednesday, with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur confirming that both the men's and women's football teams will be making their way to Hangzhou for the Asian Games 2023.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur revealed the good news through a post on social media, stating that the participation rules have been relaxed, permitting the Indian football teams to travel to China for the prestigious continental event.
Initially, there was uncertainty surrounding their participation after the Sports Ministry communicated to the IOA that only teams with a ranking up to eighth among participating Asian countries should be considered for the Asian Games.
The decision sparked widespread outrage on social media as fans voiced their discontent over India's exclusion from the event. Head coach Igor Stimac also made an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging for reconsideration.
Thakur further added that the ministry had taken into account India's recent impressive performances on the football pitch, leading to the relaxation of rules and granting the Indian football teams the opportunity to compete in the Asian Games 2023.