Indian football teams’ return to the Asian Games for the first time in nine years would provide a big boost to the players’ morale, All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Kalyan Chaubey said on Wednesday.

The Sports Ministry on Wednesday cleared the decks for Indian men’s and women’s football teams’ participation in the continental showpiece by relaxing its selection criteria.

Chaubey termed it as an important day for the sport in the country.