Hangzhou Asian Games- Sunil Chhetri to lead Indian men’s football team

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on 2 August 2023 ,announced a 22 member Indian men’s football team led by Sunil Chhetri  for the 19th Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October 2023 .

Since 2022 ,the men’s football event at the Asian Games has been for players below 23 of age. However each team allowed a maximum of three players above 23 years.

In the India team Sunil Chhetri ,goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and defender Sandesh Jhingan are the three senior players.

The Indian men’s football team has been drawn in Group A alongside hosts China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Stellar performance of team 

• The Indian men’s football team has recently won the  back-to-back two international tournaments . India won the 3rd Intercontinental cup held in the month of July 2023 at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneshwar by beating Lebanon in the final .

• India won the 14th SAFF cup by defeating Kuwait in the final played at the Kanteerava stadium, Bengaluru in July 2023. 

Medal winning performance at the Asian Games 

• The Indian men’s football team won gold medals at the New Delhi 1951 and Jakarta 1962 Asian Games . 

• The Indian team won a bronze medal at Bangkok Asian Games 1970. 

• The Hangzhou 2022 Games will be the 16th Asian Games appearance for the Indian men’s football team.

Hangzhou Asian Games 

• The 19th Asian Games to be held in  Hangzhou, China was originally slated to be held from September 10 to 25 September , 2022 but was suspended due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in China. 

• The first Asian Games was held in New Delhi in 1951. 

• After the second Asian Games which was held in 1954 ,the games were held every four years .

• The 18th Asian Games was held in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia in 2018.

• The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in 2026.