Narendra Modi steps in, clears four disciplines for Asiad

It was for the first time in the 100 days of the new government formation that prime minister Narendra Modi was asked to take a call on any sports-related matter. And he did not disappoint.

Modi overruled the sports ministry's recommendation to not send teams of four disciplines — football, volleyball, swimming and handball — for the upcoming Asian Games to be held in Incheon, South Korea, from September 19 to October 4.

This means that Indian contingent will number 679 — 516 athletes and 163 coaches and support staff— and will compete in 28 disciplines. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had proposed a contingent of 942 —662 athletes and 280 officials — in 35 disciplines.

This came as a relief to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) whose both men's and women's teams were stranded in Shanghai, China, for past two days. The squads have now been cleared at all-cost-to-government basis and will comprise 20 and 18 members respectively.

A senior official told dna that sports ministry was unhappy with the men's football team's performance and was not in favour of sending it to the Asian Games.

"Now, all these four disciplines, including football teams, have been cleared as a 'special case' for the Games," he said.

This has come after two days of reporting that both men's and women's football teams heading for the Asian Games in South Korea were stuck in China — where an exposure camp was conducted — because the sports ministry had refused to give its nod because it did not consider them medal contenders.

There were frantic calls from Indian Olympic Association (IOA) top officials to AIFF president Praful Patel to clear the participation of not just football teams but all those 935 athletes and officials in the list sent to government of India.

Sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal was advised by his officials not to clear teams in five disciplines on the basis of the criteria laid down by the government.

IOA still unhappy
Even as PM showed leniency in clearing contingent for the Games, IOA president R Ramachandran called an emergency meeting at its headquarters here to discuss the future course of action.
"Some 146 players and 117 (363 in all) officials were axed from the list sent by IOA to the government for clearance. It seems like sports ministry is giving step-motherly treatment to some of the disciplines. If we don't send our players to such important Games, all these games will die soon," said a senior IOA official on Tuesday.
The IOA had sent a list of 942 participants, including 662 athletes and 280 officials.
Other than football, the disciplines cleared for the Asian Games are aquatics (swimming), archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, rowing, sepak takraw, shooting, squash, taekwondo, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, wushu, weightlifting, and yachting.

AIFF finalises teams
Meanwhile, the AIFF has released the final list of players who would be boarding the flight to Incheon along with their coaches Wim Koevermans and Tarun Roy respectively.
Clubbed with Group A alongside hosts South Korea, Maldives and Thailand, the Indian women's team will take on Maldives on September 14 in their first league game. The other matches are against South Korea on September 17 and Thailand on September 19.
In the Under-23 men's competition, India will be up against silver medallists' United Arab Emirates in their first league match on September 15 while their last match in the Group is against Jordan on September 22.

The 20-member men's squad:
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Ravi Kumar, Kamaljit Singh.
Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Keenan Almeida, Joyner Lourenco, Shankar Sampingiraj, Sandesh Jhingan, Narayan Das.
Mid-fielders: Pronoy Halder, Clifton Dias, Siam Hangal, Lalrindika Ralte, Milan Singh.
Forwards: Francis Fernandes (senior player), Seiminlen Doungel, Sunil Chhetri (senior player), Robin Singh (senior player), Haokip Thongkoshim, Mandar Rao Desai.

The 18-member women's squad:
Goalkeepers: Okram Roshni Devi, Aditi Chauhan, Pushpa Tirkey
Defenders: Ashem Romi Devi, Ashalata Devi, Tuli Goon, Radharani Devi, Suprava Samal, Upamati Devi
Mid-fielders: Premi Devi, Amoolya Kamal, Mandakini Devi, Oinam Bembem Devi, Kamala Devi.
Forwards: Sasmita Malik, Prameshwori Devi, Dangmei Grace, Bala Devi