India men’s and women’s football teams to participate in Asian Games 2023

India men's and women's football teams have got the nod to participate in the 2023 Asian Games in China in September. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, in a tweet, confirmed that his ministry decided to relax the rules to facilitate the participation of both teams in the continental mult-sport event.

"The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has decided to relax the rules to facilitate the participation of both the teams, which were not qualifying as per the existing criterion," Anurag Thakur said on Twitter on Wednesday, July 26.

"Keeping in mind their latest performances in



recent times, the Ministry decided to grant the relaxation.

"I am sure they will put their best foot forward in the Asian Games and make our country proud."

Notably, the men's national football team did not get the nod to participate in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta because the Sports Ministry's rule states that in a team sport, only those in the top 8 will get the nod.

The men's national football team is currently ranked 18th in Asia but they have put on consistent performances, including a victorious run in SAFF Championship and the Intercontinental Cup in June-July.