The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday managed to extract three “good footballers” from as many clubs for the Hangzhou Asian Games squad.
Sandesh Jhingan (FC Goa), Chinglensana Singh (Hyderabad FC) and Lalchungnunga (East Bengal) are the trio of defenders added to the 18-member squad. Goalkeeper Vishal Yadav of Jamshedpur FC has also been added.
AIFF also sought Naorem Mahesh Singh, who East Bengal have said is injured. “The AIFF will conduct a medical test of Naorem Mahesh Singh before taking a decision to include him in the squad,” the AIFF said in a media release.
Apart from captain Sunil Chhetri, Jhingan will be the second senior player in the squad. Three senior players are allowed in the Asian Games squad, which is a tournament for Under-23. This year, however, it’s an Under-24 event since the Asiad got postponed by a year in 2022.
Jhinghan and Chinglensana were released after FSDL, which runs the ISL, agreed to reschedule the Hyderabad FC vs FC Goa match scheduled for September 22.
The Telegraph had reported on Friday that AIFF would try for four players to end the impasse.
“It’s a wonderful development that some experienced players have been added to the Asian Games squad, who will certainly help the cause of the team. I’m thankful to FSDL and AIFF for making it happen. Whoever represents India, together we will be honoured to defend the flag,” national team coach Igor Stimac said in the statement.
The squad list, released on Wednesday, was without Stimac’s name but The Telegraph on Thursday reported that the Croat would in all likelihood travel with the squad.
The squad leaves for Hangzhou on Saturday and India play their first match against China on Tuesday.
They will be up against Bangladesh on September 21 and Myanmar three days later.
There were some hectic backchannel activities after AIFF named an inexperienced 17-member squad which had only two defenders in Narender Gehlot and Sumit Rathi. Defender Deepak Tangri’s name was added to the list late on Wednesday.
The sports ministry and Sports Authority of India swung into action as AIFF pitched for four players to make the squad more competitive. Sources said AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey also spoke to top officials of FSDL and requested them to rejig the ISL-X schedule.
“The clubs were also asked to release some players,” a source told The Telegraph.
“Delighted to inform that two key positions of @indianfootball MNT is solidified now with Sunil Chhetri & Sandesh Jinghan for #AsianGames2023,” Chaubey tweeted. “Thankful to FSDL & AIFF for proactively working together last few days to find the best possible squad.”
Naorem Mahesh Singh’s case, however, raised a few eyebrows. AIFF and club sources said the East Bengal player is in Manipur. And if the medical test is conducted he has to report on Saturday.
