Asian Games 2023: Indian women’s softball team among those cut by sports ministry

The Indian women’s softball and men’s handball, water polo and 5x5 basketball teams have been withdrawn from the Asian Games 2023, which will be held in the People’s Republic of China later this year.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officially withdrew the four teams by writing to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee.

The withdrawals were in line with the Indian sports ministry’s criteria while selecting teams for the Asian Games. The rule states that “for team events, only those sports teams which have achieved a ranking up to eighth among participating countries of Asia in the last one year should be considered for participation in Asian Games.”

The Indian women’s softball team, ranked 10th in Asia, was set to debut at the Asian Games after receiving a wildcard entry. A 16-member squad was also announced earlier this week.

The men’s 5x5 basketball team is ranked 15th in the continent while the water polo side is 9th in Asia. The men’s handball team is placed outside the top eight.

The ranking criteria, however, was relaxed for the Indian football teams by the ministry earlier this week.

The Indian men’s football team is currently ranked 18th in Asia while the women’s team stands at the 11th spot. Both Indian football teams had missed the 2018 Asian Games due to the same ranking criteria.

The Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, however, approved the participation of several other teams, including men’s and women’s cricket, men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s kabaddi, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s 3x3 basketball, women’s 5x5 basketball, women’s handball and women’s rugby.

The Asian Games 2023 are scheduled to take place from September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, China.