Chhetri, Gurpreet rested; India announce a young squad for South Asian Games
India will send a U-23 squad for the upcoming South Asian Games in Guwahati, with the exception of Jeje Lalpekhlua and Aiborlang Khongjee. The hosts will look to carry the momentum they gained with their victory in the SAFF Cup, into this tournament, where they are grouped alongside Maldives and Sri Lanka.
A lot of young and exciting talents will be on display for India when they face Sri Lanka in the opening game of the SAG football tournament's group stage on February 6, at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati.
India's first choice goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has been rested for this tournament, which will allow Amrinder Singh and TP Rehenesh to fight for the spot in goal. Experienced defender Arnab Mondal has also been dropped, and this will bring a lot of pressure on the young shoulders of Sandesh Jhingan at the center of the defence.
There will be a new-look midfield, with Pronay Halder and Rowlin Borges anchoring at the center of the park, while in attack, Jeje will partner the likes of Jayesh Rane, Holicharan Narzary or Thongkhosiem Haokip, in the absence of Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh.
India have thrice won the gold in this event, the last of which arrived back in 1995, which was also incidentally the last time the South Asian Games was held in India. Bangladesh are the defending champions of the tournament, and last time they knocked out India in their semi-final clash, with Balal Arezou scoring the winner.
India's probable 28 of the tournament:
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Rehenesh Paramba, Kamaljit Singh.
Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Narayan Das, Kaushik Sarkar, Bikramjit Singh, Abhishek Das, Nikhil Poojary, Salam Ranjan Singh, Samad Ali Mallik, Prabir Das and Aiborlang Khongjee.
Midfielders: Sumit Passi, Jayesh Rane, Pronay Halder, Amoes Thiruvanathanadhah, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Germanpreet Singh, Mawihmingthanga, Zodingliana, Rowlin Borges and Vinit Rai.
Forwards: Holicharan Narzary, T. Haokip, Udanta Singh, and Jeje Lalpekhlua.
Coach: Lee Johnson