Indian Men’s Football Team Draws Favorable Group in Hangzhou Asian Games, Women’s Team Faces Challenges
In the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, the Indian men’s football team has been drawn into Group A, alongside China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, making it a relatively favourable group for them. Meanwhile, the Indian women’s football team will compete in Group B, facing challenges from Thailand and Chinese Taipei.
The participation of both the men’s and women’s teams in the prestigious quadrennial event was confirmed after the Sports Ministry made the decision to relax the existing selection criteria, allowing them the opportunity to showcase their talents on the Asian stage
FORMAT
The men’s competition comprises six groups, and the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16. This format provides a fair chance for the Indian men’s team to progress to the knockout stage.
For the women’s competition, the setup is equally exciting. The top team from each group and the three best second-placed teams will qualify for the quarter-finals, offering the Indian women’s team an excellent chance to advance further in the tournament.
With the relaxed selection criteria and an optimistic group draw. The Hangzhou Asian Games offer a promising opportunity for both Indian men’s and women’s football teams to excel and succeed.
India has a storied history of success in men’s football at the Asian Games. The country achieved gold medal triumphs in the inaugural edition in 1951 and once again in 1962, showcasing their prowess on the continental stage.
Since 2002, the Asian Games restricted football to U-23 players, with three overage players allowed. Now, they include 24-year-olds due to the pandemic. The organizers have actively extended the age eligibility criteria to include 24-year-old players due to the pandemic’s impact.
Background
Initially, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) declined clearance for the Asian Games, citing the teams’ low Asian rankings. This decision threatened to sideline both the men’s and women’s football teams from participating in the prestigious event.
The AIFF responded to the IOA’s decision by seeking the Sports Ministry’s intervention to permit Indian teams’ participation. National senior team head coach, Igor Stimac, also appealed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to resolve the situation and ensure the teams’ participation in the Asian Games.
The desire to showcase talent, represent the nation, and add to India’s football legacy drove the plea for participation. The hopes were high that with the necessary approvals, the teams would be able to compete against top Asian footballing nations and make the country proud with their performances.
The upcoming Games will see Indian football veterans Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Sandesh Jhingan actively selected as the three overage players to strengthen the Indian men’s team.
The Indian men’s team can confidently expect to advance to the next round, facing lower-ranked opponents Myanmar and Bangladesh. Similarly, the Indian women’s team also has high hopes of progressing in the competition.
In February, the organizers announced an unchanged age cut-off for the 2023 Asian Games, set at January 1, 1999. Each team can actively include three overage players to boost experience and competence in the football competition at the event.
Indian men’s team ranks 18th in AFC; women’s team holds 11th position. Anticipation grows for Hangzhou Asian Games 2022.
The Indian men’s team has made significant progress in the FIFA rankings, entering the sub-100 club once again. Their recent success includes winning the SAFF Championship, where they competed against Lebanon and Kuwait. Furthermore, they triumphed in the Intercontinental Cup and the tri-nation football tournament, defeating Kyrgyz Republic and Myanmar.
The women’s team has also shown impressive performances, securing victories over Kyrgyzstan twice in the Olympic Qualifiers Round 1.
The organizers have set the Asian Games football event from September 19 to October 8, culminating in the penultimate-day final match. India’s men’s and women’s teams, bolstered by recent successes and overage players, target a standout performance against formidable Asian rivals.
Very informative ❤️