According to reports, Indian Football Team custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu would miss the continental event due to injury difficulties with Bengaluru FC. Sunil Chhetri and co are facing a big challenge as the Asian Games 2023 approaches. Apart from Gurpeet, Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra, and other key regulars are also expected to miss the opener.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) selected U-23 players to provide them exposure to the famous multi-discipline competition.Three players over the age limit, including Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, were joining them.
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However, there are concerns over Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s participation in the Asian Games. This is owing to injuries to his club’s second and third-choice goalkeepers. Due to the injuries to Amrit Gope and Vikram Lakhbir Singh, club and AIFF officials notified Sandhu that he might not be released for the Asian Games.
“We are struggling to even conduct training sessions,” said the official to HT.
The Indian Super League season 2023-24 is set to begin in September. With dates potentially clashing with the Asian Games. If Bengaluru FC does not have cover for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, he may be denied permission to represent India in the Asian Games. The clubs are not required to release players for the national team because the fixtures do not come within FIFA’s authorised international fixtures window.
India will also be without Vikram Pratap Singh, Apuia, and Akash Mishra (AFC CL) and Anwar Ali and Asish Rai (AFC Cup). Narender Gahlot and Aniket Jadhav (AFC Cup) will also miss the opener against PR China. Roshan Singh may be the only consistent fullback available against China.
To ensure strong Indian presence, three players over the age of 23 were chosen. While India’s U-23 players comprised the majority of the team. The three senior figures in the roster for the Asian Games are Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, and Sunil Chhetri. If the custodian situation at BFC does not improve, Sandhu will most likely be absent from the Indian Football Team squad.
“We can’t ignore Bengaluru’s injury problems,” Shaji Prabhakaran, AIFF Secretary General said
In Group A, India will face China on September 19, Bangladesh on September 21, and Myanmar on September 24. The top two teams advance to the tournament’s knockout stages. The best third-placed team, however, also advances to the next round..
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