The Indian football team will not get the services of Naorem Mahesh Singh for the Hangzhou Asian Games after his club, East Bengal, refused to release the player, citing injury.
"The club said Mahesh picked up an injury during the King's Cup campaign (in Thailand). I had requested East Bengal to at least let him travel with the squad since his presence would have boosted the confidence of the young players. And I spoke as a former player of the club, not as the federation's president," AIFF top boss Kalyan Chaubey told The Telegraph on Sunday.
Mahesh is at present in Manipur recuperating from injury. AIFF may now monitor Mahesh's progress.
The Indian squad left on Sunday night without defenders Konsam Chinglensana Singh (Hyderabad FC) and Lalchungnunga (East Bengal) as their visas were not ready.
