Finally, the government has given the nod to the Indian men's and women's football teams to participate in the Asian Games beginning September 23 in Hangzhou, China.
Anurag Thakur, union minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, said in a tweet that the government "has decided to relax the rules to facilitate the participation of both the teams, which were not qualifying as per the existing criterion".
"Keeping in mind their latest performances in the 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," tweeted Thakur.
The government's reluctance to send the national football teams to the continental event had prompted the men's team head coach Igor Stimac to make a social media appeal.
Stimac had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister Thakur to let the national teams compete.
"We as a national team have worked extremely hard in the last four years and managed some great results, proving that we can achieve more if we get the support from all stakeholders," Stimac had said in a tweet on July 17.
The national football teams were not granted permission to participate in the Jakarta Games in 2018.
The ministry had refused permission earlier on the argument that the men's team was ranked 18th in Asia and the government only wishes to send the teams that rank in the top eight.
