Football - The Squad that India will send to China for the Asian Games 2023

 

Captain and legend Sunil Chhetri, Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan are valuable additions to the squad. Defender Anwar Ali is also a player to look out.

Glorious Beginnings and Fading Success: The Rich Indian Football History

Indian football has a remarkable history, particularly during the period from 1950 to 1970, which is often referred to as the golden age. Although the Indian men's football team showcased moments of brilliance at the Olympics, it was their consistent achievements at the Asian Games that truly defined this era.

 

Golden Beginnings: Asian Games Champions:

In 1951, India emerged as the inaugural champions of Asian Games football, securing the prestigious gold medal in New Delhi. Led by legendary chief coach Syed Abdul Rahim, the Indian team featured a dynamic and attack-oriented lineup. With outstanding players like Sailen Manna, Sahu Mewalal, and Ahmed Khan, who had also represented the national team at the 1948 Olympics, India dominated the tournament without conceding a single goal. The final against Iran posed a tough challenge, but an exceptional performance by goalkeeper B Anthony ensured India's 1-0 victory.

 

Defence and Near-Misses:

In the 1958 Asian Games held in Tokyo, under the management of T Shome, India showcased an improved performance. Falling just short of a medal, they suffered a 3-1 defeat against South Korea in the semi-finals and a 4-1 loss to Indonesia in the bronze medal match. Goalkeeper Peter Thangaraj's outstanding skills earned him the title of the best goalkeeper in Asia that year.

 

Triumph Amidst Challenges:

The return of Syed Abdul Rahim as coach for the 1962 Jakarta Games marked a turning point for Indian football. Despite Rahim's battle with cancer, India's talented squad, including PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami, and Tulsidas Balaram, exhibited exceptional teamwork. Although India began the campaign with a 2-0 loss against South Korea, they bounced back by defeating Thailand and Japan to advance to the knockout stage. Overcoming South Vietnam 3-2 in a thrilling semi-final encounter, India clinched the gold medal with a 2-1 victory over South Korea in the final, courtesy of goals from PK Banerjee and Jarnail Singh.

 

The Downfall and Final Medal:

In the Bangkok 1970 Asian Games, India experienced a mini-revival. Players like Subhash Bhowmick, Sudhir Karmakar, Mohammad Habib, Shyam Thapa, and captain Syed Nayeemuddin contributed significantly to India's bronze medal-winning campaign. Notably, PK Banerjee served as a joint coach during the tournament, adding further expertise to the team's efforts.

 

Recent Struggles:

With the 1982 edition held in Delhi being the only notable performance, securing a sixth-place finish, India's football journey at the Asian Games has remained disappointing in recent decades. Notably, India didn't send a football team to the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. The Indian women's football team has also participated twice, finishing eighth in 1998 and ninth in 2014.

 

The Asian Games list :-

 

Asian Games Held	Medal/position
New Delhi 1951	Gold (1st)
Manila 1954	8th
Tokyo 1958	4th
Jakarta 1962	Gold (1st)
Bangkok 1966	8th
Bangkok 1970	Bronze (3rd)
Tehran 1974	13th
Bangkok 1978	8th
New Delhi 1982	6th
Seoul 1986	16th
Beijing 1990	Did not play
Hiroshima 1994	Did not play
Bangkok 1998	16th
Busan 2002	10th
Doha 2006	14th
Guangzhou 2010	14th
Incheon 2014	26th
Jakarta 2018	Did not play
Hangzhou 2022	TBD

 

Indian Asian Games 2023:- A Showcase of India's Growing Sporting Prowess

The eagerly anticipated 2023 Asian Games, originally scheduled for 2022 but rescheduled due to the global pandemic, is set to captivate sports enthusiasts from around the world. Held in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, from September 23 to October 8, this continental extravaganza will witness an astounding array of 40 sports, hosting Asia's finest athletes as they vie for ultimate glory.

 

Looking ahead to the Indian Asian Games 2023, India's gifted athletes have already secured their spots to proudly represent their nation at this esteemed tournament. The list of exceptional Indian sportspersons qualifying for the Asian Games 2023 thus far is as follows:-

 

S.NO	PLAYER NAME	POSITION
1	Gurpreet Singh Sandhu	Goalkeeper
2	Gurmeet Singh	Goalkeeper
3	Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem	Goalkeeper
4	Sandesh Jhingan	Defender
5	Anwar Ali	Defender
6	Narender Gahlot	Defender
7	Lalchungnunga	Defender
8	Akash Mishra	Defender
9	Roshan Singh	Defender
10	Ashish Rai	Defender
11	Jeakson Singh Thounaojam	Midfielder
12	Suresh Singh Wangjam	Midfielder
13	Apuia Ralte	Midfielder
14	Amarjit Singh Kiyam	Midfielder
15	Rahul KP	Midfielder
16	Naorem Mahesh Singh	Midfielder
17	Siva Sakthi Narayanan	Forward
18	Rahim Ali	Forward
19	Aniket Jadhav	Forward
20	Vikram Partap Singh	Forward
21	Rohit Danu	Forward
22	Sunil Chhetri	Forward