The Blue Tigers under the management of Croatian Head coach Igor Stimac will begin their quest for glory in the 19th Asian Games (2023) against China later today. India will be aiming to win their first Asian Games Medal since the 1962 edition at Bangkok when they won their 2nd gold medal.
India won its first medal in Football at Asian Games during the very first edition held way back in 1951 at New Delhi. They had to wait for 7 years and 2 editions to win their next medal at the Asian Games. During the 1962 edition at Jakarta, the Blues secured first place after defeating South Korea by 2-1 in the Finale.
India was very good in Football till 60s
-India won Football gold in Asian games 1951 n 1962
– India got 4th rank in 1956 Olympic
– India was qualified for 1950 FIFA cup but that time Indian players used to play barefoot n didn't have money to buy shoes so they cudn't play1/5
— STAR Boy (@Starboy2079) December 19, 2022
At that time, the team was led by some monumental figures like PK Banerjee, Tulsidas Balaram, Chuni Goswani and Jarnail Singh among others. They remain as the last contingent to win a Gold medal in the Asian Games but its been over 4 decades since the Indian football team had a podium finish.
Their last medal in Asian Games came in 1970 which was a Bronze Medal that India won by beating Japan 1-0. Since then India have found it difficult to even finish within the Top 5. After the 1970 edition, India finished 13th (1974), 8th (1978), 6th (1982), 16th (1986). They failed to qualify for the games in 1990 and 1994 before finishing 6th, 10th, 14th, 14th & 26th in the following editions.
Sunil Chhetri (2014,2023) will be the 3rd Indian after Sailen Manna (1951,1954) and Baichung Bhutia (2002,@006) to lead India in two Asian Games Football #Indian Football pic.twitter.com/iYZZnwrTBq
— Gautam Roy (@gautamfootball) September 19, 2023
But when India play their first match against China at Hangzhou today they will be out with a hope of getting through the Group stages. They will be without their senior players, Captain Sunil Chhetri and Centre-back Sandesh Jhingan are set to miss today’s game but the duo will return in time for India’s 2nd group stage fixture agaist Bangladesh at Xiaoshan sports center 2 days later.
And for a fact we should not be much surprised either if they don’t end up playing well. Head coach Igor Stimac initially had only 9 of the 23 players list he prepared with his staff or astrologer, we don’t know. All we know is that the last time India met China at Asian Games in 2002, the Blues lost by 2-0 at Busan South Korea.
There are hopes of securing a Win this time around but don’t be shocked if it doesn’t go our way. The team is young and highly in-experienced in terms of playing together and it remains to be seen how things will pan out for India in Asian Games 2023.
WHERE CAN I watch india’s Football match at asian games 2023?
India’s first Asian Games match is against china and it will be broadcasted on Sony Sports Network and Sony Liv.
WHERE TO WATCH India vs china asian games 2023 LIVE ON TV IN INDIA?
All of India’s Asian Games Football matches will be telecasted on Sony Sports 1,2,3,4 and 5 SD/HD channels.
WHERE CAN I WATCH asian games 2023 live ONLINE IN INDIA?
Asian Games 2023 will be available on Sony Liv website or app.
WHO ARE THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS AND RUNNERS-UP OF Asian Games 2023 football discipline?
During the previous Asian Games back in 2018, South Korea won the Golden Medal at Jakarta-Palemberg with Japan finishing 2nd while UAE clinched the Bronze medal thanks to a 4-3 penalty win over Vietnam.
