NEW DELHI: The Indian men’s football team’s participation in the Asian Games was thrown into confusion Wednesday after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) asserted it would stick to its criteria for team events, which the sport does not meet at the moment.
On Wednesday, All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Kushal Das said IOA was yet to make it clear if the football team would travel to Jakarta. “IOA said they might take another couple of days to let us know about their stand,” he told Telegraph India.
“Having received no reply for all these days, today (Wednesday) we approached the IOA again. They asked us to send the same letter again, which we did immediately. IOA president Narinder Batra assured us of considering the issue favourably,” said Das.
However, the IOA’s contention is that it can only send the top eight sides in team events as per the norm.
“I will not speak about individual sports but the criteria of top 8 in team events and top 6 in individual events stand. We will stick to that,” IANS quotes IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta as having said.
Das remained hopeful though, telling IANS: “Our president Mr Praful Patel has spoken to Mr Narinder Batra (IOA president) and we are very hopeful of our team being sent to the Asian Games.
“And it’s not just about the men’s team. Football has to be seen in a different light and it can’t be compared to handball or any other sport. I have the highest regard for Mr Batra and Mr Rajeev Mehta.
“We are confident of going to the Asian Games.”
Indian men’s team is currently ranked 97th in the world and 16th in Asia, but the football body wants the authorities to look beyond rankings under the present circumstances.
India recently won the Intercontinental Cup after beating Kenya 2-0 in the final at Mumbai. India’s performance in the tournament provided heft to chief coach Stephen Constantine’s contention that the team should be the sent to the Games.
In fact, prior to the Intercontinental Cup final in Mumbai, Constantine had appealed to the government to send a team for the mega sporting event.
“We need more games and if the government is listening, send us to the Asian games. It’s an U-23 event and we have 11 players in this squad who are below 23. The benefits the players will gain from the Asian Games will be huge, Constantine had said.
Initially, the IOA said only the teams, who finished within eighth position in the previous Asian Games would be allowed to go to Jakarta. Later, top officials of the apex body said they would seriously reconsider about sending at least the men’s football team.
Das told The Telegraph the women’s camp for the Asian Games has started in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
