New Delhi: The Indian football team for the Doha Asian Games was cleared by the Union ministry of sports on Wednesday at ‘no cost to Government basis’, according to All India Football Federation (AIFF) sources.

“The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president, Suresh Kalmadi has verbally informed the AIFF president, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi in this regard,” said a federation official. “The federation now will bear the expenses of the team for the Doha Asian Games,” the official added.

Kalmadi later confirmed saying that the football team would go to Doha. “The Indian football team is certainly going,” he said. The efforts, it seems, is still on to get the team cleared at Government’s cost.

The team is currently camping in Dubai to play a couple of practice matches before proceeding to Doha at the end of this week.

India play their first match in the Asian Games against Hong Kong on November 29, two days before the official inauguration of the Games. The Maldives and Iran are the other two teams in India ’s group.

In the first practice match on Tuesday, the Indians defeated Dubai based Irani Club 4-0 with Manjit Singh, Bungo Singh, Narinder Singh Manju and Climax Lawrence scoring the goals.