September 9 – India’s national men’s and women’s football teams, preparing for the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, are stranded in a training camp in Shanghai, with the chances of them getting to the tournament diminishing by the hour as the Indian government dilly-dallies.
The teams had been scheduled to leave for Incheon today, but the bookings have had to be cancelled as Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has yet to give clearance for the teams to participate in the football tournament which kicks off September 14, five days before the other events.
Whilst the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) sent a list of over 900 athletes and officials whom it wished to participate in the games, Indian officials want to cut the numbers to around 700, with football in danger of being one of the sports to be axed. This is largely due to warm-up games not going as well as expected, with loses against Pakistan and Czech lower league sides, and the chances of success appearing slim.
The men’s team is due to play against the United Arab Emirates (on Monday) and Jordan whilst the women’s team play the Maldives (on Sunday), hosts South Korea and Thailand.
It appears the AIFF may have to pay for the team’s participation, but even that is in doubt as a poor performance may “dent India’s prestige.”
The delay in making a final decision is placing participation in jeopardy as logistical and bureaucratic obstacles loom larger. The teams do not have their Asian Games accreditation cards, without which they cannot board a flight to Incheon. There are also a limited number of seats available on flights.
Even if the teams make it to Incheon, they will not be able to enter the Games Village until an IOA official takes part in the Delegates Registration Meeting (DRM).
Officials with the teams told The Hindu: “It is a very painful experience for the young teams, stranded in a foreign land. And it is not a good advertisement for the country’s football also.”
The Asian Games is 29-team tournament mainly for under-23 players, with each squad is allowed three overage players. Not part of FIFA’s calendar, teams have had problems calling up their best players, especially with the Asian Cup coming up in January. Organisers will not be pleased if India fail to turn up.
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