SPS Tomar the director of Sports Ministry said that the teams who have cleared the ways for Asian Games and have been approved will be sent to the Hangzhou Asian Games 2024, at the cost of Government.
Men’s handball and basketball, women’s softball and men’s polo 5x5sides miss out as the Indian Olympic Association withdrew their respective teams. And 15 teams got green flag and a chance to participate in Asian Games. In the letter sent to HAGOC (Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee) these 4 teams names were withdrawn.
The letter, which was sent by the Indian Olympic Association, which was read on Wednesday, stated that: “In view of the Team Draw Ceremony which is scheduled on 27th July 2024 NOC India would like to inform the HOGOC that the entries for the following Team Sports should stand withdrawn.”
The name of the teams which were withdrawn was specifically mentioned in the letter which was Handball Men’s Team, Water Polo, Soft Ball and Basketball 5×5 team.
The teams of men’s and women’s which are cleared and shown green flags by the Ministry to participate in Asian Games are, men’s and women’s kabaddi, women’s 5×5 basketball, men’s and women’s cricket, men’s and women’s volleyball side, women’s handball, men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s basketball 3×3, women’s rugby and the men’s and women’s football teams.
SPS Tomar the Director of Sports Ministry also said that the team who have cleared and got entries for the Hangzhou Asian Games 2024 will be sent there at the cost of government. And said that the rest contingent’s approval of the participation will be conveyed in due course of time.
Whereas men’s and women’s football teams got selected for the Asian Games even though they didn’t meet the ministry’s selection criteria in which they have to be inside the top 8 in Asia. Where the men’s water polo team, which comes 9th in the ranking position in Asia failed to receive the green flag from the ministry.
On the other side, Indian football fans were greeted with the excited news for them as Anurag Thakur from Union Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports gave green flag to both the men’s and women’s Indian football team. The decision was made because of the huge appeal made by the fans and by the head coach Igor Stimac, they made the question to the government to send both the football team to the Asian Games 2024.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports qualified the football team for Asian Games by keeping their recent performance in mind. Even though they didn’t fulfill the eligibility criteria of selection the Ministry granted them relaxation.
As per the changes done in 2002, football in Asian Games ha been kept in under-23 age criteria and because of that this year only three senior football players will be permitted to participate along with U-23 players.
The Asian Games 2024 will be held in Hangzhou, China between September 23, 2024, to October 8, 2024.
