CHENNAI:The IOA meeting on Friday all but ruled the men’s football team out of next month’s Asian Games. The Core Committee and Legal Committee members decided against recommending any more athletes to the sports ministry. “After detailed discussions... those who met the criteria of top six and top eight were considered and their names had already been forwarded,” IOA wrote to sports secretary Rahul Bhatnagar. The meeting was arranged after the ministry asked IOA to look into the possibility of relaxing the selection criteria. A ministry official said they were fine with it. “We had given them a chance to put forth new names and if they were not willing... that’s fine.”
Pencak silat back ?
The fate of pencak silat is unclear. The Indian Pencak Silat Federation reckons more than two athletes will travel. “Three is confirmed,” secretary general Mufti Hamid told Express. “All our athletes won medals at the Asian Championships. The IOA has said our number might increase.” The 10-member eSports contingent isn’t sure either. “In a day or two we will have an answer,” said an insider.
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