New Delhi: The Sports Ministry may reinstate the provision for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders to represent India in specific sports.
The action has the potential to benefit football, as it has long been believed that OCI card holders can at least provide a temporary solution for the national team. Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines are among the numerous football federations that engage in the practice of tapping into the diaspora.
Indonesia is currently in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they are ranked 123rd. Their improved performance can be attributed to the numerous players who were born in the Netherlands. Indonesia was rated 134th in April 2024, below India. The United States is the birthplace of eighteen of the 23 players on the Philippines’ 2023 Women’s World Cup squad. Malaysia’s men’s national team has been represented by athletes born in Finland, Scotland, Argentina, Spain, and Brazil since 2023.
This explains the increasing volume of demands for the inclusion of OCI and PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) players in the national team over the years. Former national coaches Stephen Constantine and Igor Stimac have urged the government to reconsider. In 2023, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the establishment of a task force to conduct a feasibility study on PIOs. It is unclear what resulted from it.
India’s tennis team has also been deficient in depth for an extended period. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has made minimal efforts to cultivate talent.
On Thursday, an official from the sports ministry stated that there was no damage in revisiting the 2008 policy, which restricted the number of Indian citizens who could represent the country.
“Why not allow OCI participation if it benefits the national team, particularly in sports such as football and tennis?” Given the confidential nature of the matter, the official requested anonymity. “It can only be for sports where Indians are not doing well,” he stated.
Dual citizenship is not permissible in India. However, a number of OCI card holders have represented India in the absence of guidelines, even as the issue was brought up in the country’s courts. Prakash Amritraj was a member of India’s Davis Cup team, and Shikha Oberoi, a tennis player born in the United States, has been a member of the national team.
In 2008, MS Gill, the then sports minister, implemented a policy that restricted the representation of India to Indian citizens. This meant that Izumi Arata, an Indian-Japanese who had been playing professional football in India since 2006, could only represent the national football team after obtaining Indian citizenship in 2013.
BCCI and corporate entities have pledged their support for Olympic sports.
Mansukh Mandaviya, the Sports Minister, convened with more than 50 corporate entities on Thursday to discuss the necessity of providing support for Olympic sports. Additionally, representatives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were in attendance.
“The meeting was attended by 58 corporate entities, all of which are enthusiastic about supporting Olympic disciplines.” The sports ministry is aiming to initiate the Olympic Centres of Excellence this year, and the BCCI is also interested in adopting two to three Olympic disciplines, according to an official.
The sports ministry’s ambitious objective is to transform the facilities of SAI, National Centres of Excellence, into world-class Olympic centers by concentrating on a single sport in a single center. “We intend to commence with 50-55 athletes in these centers.” A center will be supported by a single corporate entity, and athletes will have access to state-of-the-art training facilities.
The Khelo India Beach Games will take place on May 19.
Diu, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, and Daman will host the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games from May 19 to 24. Beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach speak takraw, beach kabaddi, pencak silat, and open water swimming comprise the six competitive sports. Additionally, two demonstration sports will be played: tug of war and mallakhamb. The KIBG is anticipated to attract more than 1000 athletes from 36 states and UTs, according to the organizers.
