Indian Football Coach Igor Stimac Requests PM Modi’s Intervention for Indian Team’s Participation in Hangzhou Asian Games
Indian men’s football team head coach, Igor Stimac, has written a heartfelt letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appealing for the Indian team’s participation in the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games. Stimac took to Twitter to share his letter, in which he also tagged Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
The Indian football team has reportedly been denied participation in the Hangzhou Asian Games due to the government’s criteria of being ranked in the top 8 teams in the continent. Currently, India is ranked 100th in the FIFA rankings and 18th in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
In his tweet, Stimac wrote, 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.
Stimac’s tweet included a note explaining the situation, expressing his belief that unjust reasons were behind the denial of participation for the talented U-23 Indian team. He also mentioned how PM Modi’s recent comment on Kylian Mbappe resonated with Indian fans during his visit to France.
According to the Sports Ministry’s letter sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all National Sports Federations (NSFs), team events for the Asian Games should include only those sports that have achieved a ranking up to eighth among participating Asian countries in the last year.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has stated that it plans to appeal to the sports ministry to reconsider their decision. AIFF Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran acknowledged that while the decision was made by the government, they would request a reconsideration for football.
The letter from Igor Stimac to PM Modi highlights the coach’s genuine concern and determination to ensure the Indian team’s participation in the Hangzhou Asian Games. His plea for reconsideration emphasizes the talented U-23 players who are being denied an opportunity to compete for their nation. As the footballing world eagerly awaits a favorable response from the government, the hopes and dreams of the Indian football team rest on the shoulders of those in power to make a decision that will allow them to represent their country on the Asian stage.
