India head coach Igor Stimac on Monday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention for the national football team's participation at the upcoming Asian Games despite not meeting the selection criteria.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had planned that Stimac would take an Under-23 side to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, starting from September 23.

However, since the Indian football team does not meet the sports ministry's criteria of being ranked among the top-eight sides, it is set to miss the continental event.

"I wanted to bring to your immediate attention that our U-17 team from 2017, which also gave a great performance at the U-23 World Cup qualifiers and is one very talented team, is now being deprived from participating in the Asian Games," Stimac wrote in a lengthy social media post.

Besides Modi, Stimac also appealed to sports minister Anurag Thakur.

"This team really needs and deserves the participation. The reasons given are unjust and as India's national team coach, I felt it's important to immediately bring this matter to your and the Hon'ble Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's knowledge.

"So that you could intervene and help the team participate in the Asian Games."

India are currently ranked 18th in Asia.

"As our own ministry is denying the participation in the context of ranking, whereas the fact is that our football team is better ranked than some of the other sports teams which have been allowed participation in the Asian Games.

"Also history and statistics are testimony to the fact that football is one sport where a lower-ranked team has a chance to beat the top-ranked teams," the Croatian wrote.

In a letter sent to IOA and all the national sports federations, the sports ministry has said that "for team events, only those sports 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".

"India hosted the U-17 Fifa World Cup in 2017 and invested heavily in building a very fine new generation of players. You have always supported India's dream of playing in Fifa World Cup one day and I am certain that if we have your continuous support in the manner we have received till date, the day is not far when we will be at the global stage participating in the most prestigious tournaments.