India Determined for Strong Performance in AFC Asian Cup

Sayak Bandyopadhyay / 9/1/24

With just a few days left before their January 13 clash against Australia, the Indian camp is buzzing with excitement. This tournament holds immense significance for Indian football, a fact well understood by everyone from captain Sunil Chhetri to young Vikram Pratap Singh. Notably, the tournament features several young players, adding to the anticipation.

Coach Igor Stimac is urging Sunil Chhetri and his team to play fearless football, aiming to put pressure on 25th-ranked Australia. He emphasizes the importance of using the experience of seasoned players like Sunil Chhetri, Subhasish Bose, Pritam Kotal, and Anirudh Thapa, who all played together in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Despite India’s heavy loss to Australia in 2011, goalkeeper Subrata Pal had an outstanding performance. This time, the responsibility lies with goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

In an interview with AIFF Media, Gurpreet mentioned that the team has a mix of young talents and experienced players. He added that the team has improved significantly, having won the SAFF Cup and Intercontinental Cup last year. The team is now ready to take the field with the aim of achieving a strong result in the AFC Asian Cup.