Asian Games 2023: Sunil Chhetri, Jhingan and Sandhu’s name’s not in the squad
Indian football team stars Sunil Chhetri, Sandesh Jhingan and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s names are missing from the India’s official list of men’s football players for the Asian Games in China’s Hangzhou.
In the men’s category, a country has to send an U-23 team. However, three players from the squad can be 23-years-old or above that. Moreover, for Women’s team, there is no age restriction.
Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey recently confirmed that Chhetri, Jhingan and Sandhu will be the three players above the age of 23 in the squad. He also confirmed that Chhetri would be the captain.
However, the trios name are not in the list athletes shared with the organization of Asia Games. The cut-off date to send the list was 15th July. The list of men’s football team consist of 22 players.
No Chhetri, Jhingan and Sandu in Asian Games 2023?
Moreover, IOA and Chaubey have personally requested the Asiad organizers to provide ‘accreditation’ as a ‘special case’ to these players. A letter to this effect has been sent to the organmizers.
Chaubey said in interview:
“When we (AIFF’s coaches, technical officials and support staff members and federation officials) had made a presentation to the sports ministry’s officials requesting for the football teams’ (men and women) clearance for the Asiad, we didn’t realise that their names (Chhetri, Sandhu and Jhingan) were not in the original list of athletes sent to the organisers.”
“When I realised this (omission), being the head of the organisation (AIFF), I took up the matter personally to ensure that their names were added so that they could get the accreditation. Their names have been sent to the organisers. The people concerned who made the presentation to the ministry should have known about this. As the federation president, I needed to interfere.”
List of Indian men’s football players for Asian Games 2023:
Anwar Ali, Gurmeet, Lalengmawia, Narender, Rahim Ali, Lalnuntluanga Bawitlung, Rohit Danu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Aniket Anil Jadhav, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Akash Mishra, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Roshan Singh Naorem, Siva Sakthi Narayanan, Asish Rai, Vikram Pratap Singh, Deepak Tangri, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Suresh Singh Wangjam
