9 football players from Northeast named in Indian squad for Asian Games 2023

The host nations, China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, were placed in Group A with the Indian men's football team

In a proud moment for the Northeast, nine footballers from the region have been named in the Indian squad for the Asian Games 2023 to be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8, 2023.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a 22-member Indian men’s football team for the Asian Games 2023 on Tuesday.

Striker Sunil Chettri, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and defender Sandesh Jhingan are the three senior players in the Hangzhou squad.

On the other hand, six Footballers from Manipur—Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Roshan Singh Naorem, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, and Naorem Mahesh Singh—have been included in the squad.

Two from Mizoram—Lalchungnunga and Lalengmawia Ralte—have also been listed in the squad for the Asian Games.

Sikkim footballer Ashish Rai has also been included in the Indian squad for the Asian Games 2023 and will be representing the Nation as a Defender in the games in China.

The Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Gurmeet Singh, and Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem
Defenders: Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Narender Gahlot, Lalchungnunga, Akash Mishra, Roshan Singh, and Ashish Rai.
Midfielders: Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Apuia Ralte, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Rahul KP, Naorem Mahesh Singh.
Forwards: Siva Sakthi Narayanan, Rahim Ali, Aniket Jadhav, Vikram Partap Singh, Rohit Danu, and Sunil Chhetri.
Head Coach: Igor Stimac

Since 2002, the men’s football competition at the Asian Games has only been open to athletes under the age of 23, with a maximum of three players older than 23 allowed per squad.

The host nations, China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, were placed in Group A with the Indian men’s football team.

The Indian football team is participating in the Hangzhou Games as a special case. The sports ministry relaxed its rules on the basis of India’s current performances, which saw the national team win back-to-back international tournaments—the Intercontinental Cup and the SAFF Cup.

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