India name 13 FIFA U-17 World Cup players in squad for U-19 Asian Qualifiers

While Indian FIFA U-17 World Cup hero, goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh, has been named in the Under-19 squad for the AFC Championship qualifiers, striker Aniket Jadhav, winger Komal Thatal and midfielder Abhijit Sarkar were overlooked by coach Luis Norton de Matos

As many as 13 players who did national duty in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup were named in the 23-member Indian squad for the AFC U-19 Championships Qualifiers to be held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, next month.

India FIFA U-17 World Cup football team goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh (left), defender Sanjeev Stalin (2nd right) and Jeakson Singh (right), with Indian senior football team skipper Sunil Chhetri. Dheeraj, Stalin and Jeakson have become household names in India following their inspired performance at the World Cup.(FIFA)

Striker Aniket Jadhav, winger Komal Thatal and midfielder Abhijit Sarkar were among those from the India U-17 World Cup squad to miss the bus for the U-19 event.

Head coach Luis Norton de Matos picked the squad after a week-long camp in the Capital. The squad has 10 members from India’s U-19 team which played in the SAFF U-19 Championship in Bhutan.

India are scheduled to play Qatar U-19 in a friendly match in Doha on October 25 as part of their preparation for the AFC Qualifiers.

India have been clubbed with Yemen and Turkmenistan and hosts Saudi Arabia in Group D. They play their first match against Saudi Arabia on November 4, followed by games against Yemen (November 6) and Turkmenistan (November 8).

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Dheeraj Singh, Mohammad Nawaz, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.

Defenders: Namgyal Bhutia, Sahil Panwar, Deepak Tangri, Ashish Rai, Boris Singh, Sanjeev Stalin, Anwar Ali, Jitendra Singh.

Midfielders: Abhishek Halder, Princeton Rebello, Suresh Singh, Amarjit Singh, Rahul KP, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Nongdamba Naorem, Jeakson Singh.

Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Roshan Singh, Lalawmpuia, Rahim Ali.