Asian Games: Indian men’s football team head coach Igor Stimac penned down a heartfelt and emotional note to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sport Minister Anurag Thakur, appealing them to allow Indian team to participate in the upcoming Asian games in China.
The Indian football team is not playing at Asian Games for second straight editions because it does not meet sport ministry’s criteria of being among top 8 sides in the continent. The AIFF had shortlisted 40 players for the tournament. which is meant for under 23 players with 3 allowed in the squad above mentioned age and put senior coach Igor in charge of the team.
“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!,” Stimac wrote on Twitter with a letter attached to it.
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!#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/wxGMY4o5TN— Igor Štimac (@stimac_igor) July 17, 2023
“Honourable Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi ji, I am sure if someone would have briefed you or updated you abour the Indian teams participating in the upcoming Asian Games, where the most important and the key global sport “football” team has been deprived from participating and representing the Indian flag,” Stimac wrote in the letter.
“India hosted the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 and invested heavily in building a very fine new generation of players. You have always supported India’s dream of playing in FIFA World Cup one day and I can certain that if we have your continuous support in the manner we have received till date the day is not far when we will be at the global stage participating in the most prestigious tournaments.
“We as a national team have worked hard in the last four years and managed some great results, proving that we can achieve more if we get the support from all stakeholders.
“Your speech about football and Mbappe in your recent visit to France also touched all Indians dreaming and rooting for Indian football.
“I wanted to bring your immediate attention that our U-17 team from 2017, which also gave a great performance at the U-23 World Cup qualifiers and is one very talented team, is now being deprived from participating in the Asian games.
