Which three senior India players will feature in Asian Games 2023?

Indian football teams got a green signal for participation in Asian Games 2023 on 26 July.

The Indian football teams received a major update on their 2023 Asian Games ambitions after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced that they will be playing in the competition. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has relaxed the rules of participation after watching the national team’s impressive performances this year.

As a result, both the Men’s and Women’s National teams will be representing the nation in the Asian Games. The 2023 edition of the historic competition will be held in Hangzhou, China from 22 September, 2023 to 8 October, 2023.

Which senior players will play for India U-23 men's team?

The Indian teams will participate in the football category along with some of Asia’s best national teams. Igor Stimac is poised to take charge of the team for the upcoming competition and the rules for the football category mean that only the U-23 teams for the nations can take part.

India will face off against the likes of South Korea, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Hong Kong – who are confirmed in the football category. They can mostly comprise U-23 players, but there is an option for any team to field three senior players beyond that age category.

Khel Now can exclusively reveal that Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan have been chosen to fill these three slots. The three experienced figures are expected to fly to China with the U-23 men's team to take part in the matches.

What other players could feature in the Asian Games?

This will mark the first time since the 2014 Asian Games that the Indian football team will be allowed to take part in the football category. They have never won a medal in this category since the nation started taking part in the Asian Games. Chhetri, however, has decent experience of playing in the Asian Games in the past with India.

The India U-23 team is expected to have a few busy months ahead, as they will also take part in the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September. The squad for these are yet to be revealed, but some of India’s brightest young talents are expected to feature in both the qualifiers and Asian Games.

The likes of Anwar Ali, Naorem Roshan Singh and Akash Mishra are all eligible to play and should shield the backline. Jeakson Singh, Suresh Singh Wangjam and Lalengmawia 'Apuia' Ralte, who are national team regulars – should be in the running too.

India also have some exciting forwards who will be ready to play in this, which includes the likes of Sivasakthi Narayanan and Vikram Partap Singh. Mumbai City No. 9 Gurkirat Singh can also be a perfect fit for this one after excelling for the India U-20 side in the SAFF U-20 Championship last year. The Blue Colts have an exciting core that can spring up a few surprises in the Asian Games and have an outside chance of bagging a medal for the nation.