Securing a knockout round berth looks difficult but not impossible as the Indian football team takes on title contenders Australia in its opening group match of the AFC Asian Cup on Saturday.

Eliminated in the group stage in their last two appearances in 2011 and 2019, India face an uphill task this time also, as they have been clubbed with Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria in Group B.

India’s hopes of making it to the round-of-16 in the continental showpiece depends on the outcome of the match against Syria on January 23 as Australia and Uzbekistan (January 18) are way ahead of them in terms of quality.

A win against Syria can put India in the third place in the group, offering a chance for a knock-out round berth. The top two teams from each group, along with four best third-placed sides from across six groups, progress to the knockout round-of-16.

Head coach Igor Stimac and captain Sunil Chhetri have already hinted that Australia (25th in Fifa ranking) and Uzbekistan (68th) — the favourites to take the top two spots in the group — are possibly out of reach for India.

Debanjan Cup begins

Calcutta: The annual inter-school tournament, Debanjan Cup, organised by the Debanjan Sen Foundation, was inaugurated at the DPS New Town School ground on Friday afternoon.

Only 18 schools turned out at the opening ceremony for this year's edition, a cause of concern not only for the organisers but also the schools. This has been cited as a post-Covid phenomenon but the lack of interest doesn't bode well for the game at the grassroots level.

The opening ceremony included an exhibition game between DSF All Stars featuring boys from the previous editions of the tournament and the DPS New Town School football team. The All Stars won comfortably 5-2.

Mohun Bagan's former I-League winning coach Sanjoy Sen was present at the inauguration.

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