The India Football Team was spotted sweating hard in the gym. The Blue Tigers are currently in Qatar preparing for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2023. The Sunil Chhetri led squad reached Doha earlier and without wasting any single time have hit the gym to get back to their best fitness.
The transition from club football to National Team is quite an ordeal. As a result, the team didn’t waste any time. After reaching Doha they hit the gym.
Another reason for hitting the gym is to build the fitness in the team. Star playmaker Sahal Abdul Samad got injured while playing for Mohun Bagan in the ISL and have been out of the squad for the last few matches. Despite having his injury concerns, he has been added into the squad.
With an injured midfield, it is only logical for the team to build on their fitness before the mega tournament starts. India will face Australia in their opening match on 13th January. India has been the first team to reach Qatar for the tournament.
Addressing the fitness concerns, head coach Igor Stimac said, “The first part we need to work on is bringing the focus back to the national team and raising our fitness levels. We will then see where we stand and decide on our approach against Australia. We have many players from Mohun Bagan, who have had poor results recently. So we need to bring the confidence back in the players who have low self-esteem. But I’m also happy with how some of our players have performed with their clubs, like Sahal (Abdul Samad), who has been assisting a lot and Sandesh (Jhingan), who has stabilised FC Goa’s defence.”
India’s 26-member squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2023
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Akash Mishra, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Udanta Singh.
Forwards: Ishan Pandita, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh.
India’s Group B fixtures at the AFC Asian Cup 2023
- January 13, 2024: Australia vs India (17:00 IST, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)
- January 18, 2024: India vs Uzbekistan (20:00 IST, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)
- January 23, 2024: Syria vs India (17:00 IST, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)
