Indian football teams may not participate in the 2014 Asian Games

The loss to Pakistan U-23 could eventually hamper the football team's participation

The sports ministry may not clear the men’s and women’s football teams to participate in the 2014 Asian Games, according to a Telegraph report.

The report says that the ministry is not too impressed by the India men’s football team following their humiliating 2-0 defeat to Pakistan U-23 in the second match of the recently concluded bilateral series in Bangalore.

Both the ministry and SAI (Sports Authority of India) officials believe India don’t have much of a chance in the tournament where they have been drawn in a top group alongside UAE and Jordan.

If the ministry decides not to send the football teams for the Incheon Games, it will be the third time that India are not represented in the football competition after 1990 and 1994.

Both the men’s and women’s teams are currently in China preparing for the Asian Games with the trips being cleared by SAI. If the government doesn’t approve the participation of the two teams, their fate would depend on whether the AIFF wants to bear the expenses.

“A final decision would only be taken after a week, but there is every chance the government would not bear the cost of the men’s and women’s football teams in the Asian Games. Of course, the AIFF (All India Football Federation) can send the team on their own,” a senior ministry official was quoted saying.

India won the gold medal in the men’s event in 1951 and 1962 and the bronze in 1970 but are nowhere near being medal prospects nowadays. It was learnt that SAI director general Jiji Thompson witnessed India’s defeat against Pakistan and was disappointed by the performance of Wim Koevermans’ side.