India’s men’s football squad for the upcoming Asian Games has been announced, with Sunil Chhetri leading the team and Igor Stimac as the coach. Chhetri, Sandesh Jhingan, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu are among the notable players included in the 22-member squad for the tournament in Hangzhou, China.
The decision to send the first team to the Asian Games was confirmed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), who had been keen on having Chhetri lead the side under the guidance of Stimac, a former Croatian World Cup semifinalist. The squad has obtained approval from the Asian Games organizers and the Olympic Council of Asia.
Initially, doubts were raised about the participation of both the men’s and women’s football teams in the event due to the sports ministry’s criteria of sending teams ranked in the top eight on the continent. However, the ministry later relaxed the criteria following an appeal from the AIFF, allowing both teams to compete.
While the Asian Games’ football competition is traditionally an Under-23 tournament, this edition is accepting players who are 24 years old due to the one-year delay caused by the pandemic. The cut-off date of birth has been set at January 1, 1999.
This will be India’s return to the Asian Games after missing the 2018 edition in Jakarta. With a strong squad comprising experienced players like Chhetri, Jhingan, and Sandhu, the team will be eager to make an impact in the tournament.
The squad includes three goalkeepers – Sandhu, Gurmeet Singh, and Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. The defensive line features Jhingan, alongside Anwar Ali, Narender Gahlot, Lalchungnunga, Akash Mishra, Roshan Singh, and Ashish Rai. The midfield consists of Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Apuia Ralte, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Rahul KP, and Naorem Mahesh Singh. The forward line comprises Siva Sakthi Narayanan, Rahim Ali, Chhetri, Aniket Jadhav, Vikram Partap Singh, and Rohit Danu.
The selection of this talented squad is expected to give India a chance to make a mark in the Asian Games football competition. The players will be eager to put their best foot forward under the guidance of coach Stimac as they represent their nation on the continental stage. The tournament is scheduled to commence in Hangzhou, China, and Indian football fans are hoping for a successful campaign from their national team.
