An ambitious project to awaken a sleeping giant of Asian soccer looks like confirming Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's famous remark that India pricks up its ears only when comparisons with China are made. With China embarked on a multi-billion dollar mission to become a soccer superpower by 2050, India looks set to follow suit with its own plan to raise its status in the game to match its burgeoning economic power. Come October, India, most famously described as soccer's sleeping giant by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, will launch a programme to engage more than 11 million children in soccer-related activities.
Mumbai FC's unbeaten run came to an end after they slumped to a 1-3 home defeat to Salgaocar FC in an I-League Round-5 encounter at the Balewadi Sports Complex, in Pune, on Friday. A second half brace from striker Darryl Duffy (66th and 72nd minute), and a late goal by winger Gilbert Oliviera (90th) handed the visitors three points. Substitute Jayesh Rane pulled one back for the hosts in the 85th minute.
Defender Jerry Lalrinzuala scored a spectacular long range goal as India beat Nepal 1-0 in the final to win the South Asian Football Federation Under-16 Championship at the Dasharath stadium in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
In the country's maiden appearance in any World Cup, India showed sparks in patches, but lagged way behind in class.
An important factor in India's stupendous success in 2021 was the way the government opened its coffers to support athletes.
India's Ankur Mittal won silver medal in the men's double trap event at the ongoing ISSF World Shotgun Championship, in Moscow, on Tuesday.
Jordan Murray put Kerala ahead in the 64th minute before Neville's stoppage-time equaliser (90+5) ensured that SCEB extended their unbeaten run to six games.
De Matos was appointed head coach in March this year and in a short span of time, he has tried to build a team ready to fight the best.
The Indian football team showed a lot of character and resilience in its title-winning Intercontinental Cup campaign and the attitude would be crucial to ensuring that the country doesn't just make up the numbers in next year's AFC Asian Cup, believes national coach Stephane Constantine.
Playing in a FIFA World Cup remains a pipe dream for India
In his first visit to India since being elected the FIFA President Gianni Infantino labelled India as the "passionate giant," of Football. Infantino was in Goa as the local organising committee of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 (LOC) unveiled the official emblem for what will be India's first international football event.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
The long road to Russia 2018 kicks off in the outposts of Asia on Thursday with the world's worst international team, Bhutan, making their World Cup qualifying debut and eyeing a first win of any sorts since 2008.
National football coach Stephen Constantine named 32 probables on Wednesday for India's upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup joint qualification Round 1 home and away matches against Nepal. India first host Nepal on March 12 at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium in Sajusarai, Guwahati, while the return leg is slated to be played in Nepal on March 17.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
'I hope Messi wins something with his national team and not only with his club, then he would have won everything with everyone'
India captain Sunil Chhetri has urged fans to be patient with the team and coach Stephen Constantine after the national team's yet another shambolic qualification campaign for the 2018 soccer World Cup.
India midfielder Syed Rahim Nabi was named captain of Indian Super League side Mumbai City Football Club ahead of the tournament lung opener against Atletico de Kolkata at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata.
All the results from the I-League and ISL matches played on Saturday
A narrow 1-0 win was not enough for a desperate Mumbai City FC who were knocked out by FC Goa 5-2 on aggregate in the Hero Indian Super League semi-final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Margao, on Tuesday.
Mizoram blanked Railways 3-0 in a one-sided final of the 68th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy in Siliguri.
A gritty India survived waves of attacks from Qatar to hold the reigning Asian champions to a goalless draw to steal an unexpected point from their away match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Salgaocar consolidated their position atop the I-League table with a thrilling 3-2 victory over East Bengal in a Round 8 match in Kalyani on Friday.
2019 became a 'Year to Remember' in Indian sports for trailblazing performances in Olympic disciplines
Southampton confirmed that they had signed 23-year-old Walker-Peters, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the club. British media put the fee at 12 million pounds.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) said it wants to see the country's national team breach the top 100 of the world football rankings within three years.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday placed Hockey India under a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to run its day-to-day affairs
All India Football Federation president Praful Patel on Friday conceded there were "certain issues" between AIFF and Bob Houghton but asserted that the Englishman remains the national coach and will guide the team in next year's Asian Cup in Doha.
India warmed up nicely for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier match against Kyrgyzstan as they outclassed lower-ranked Nepal 2-0 in an international football friendly in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday.
National Anti-Doping Agency chief Navin Agarwal confirmed the former India captain was tested by NADA officials in March but declined to elaborate further.
India, currently ranked 132nd in the FIFA world rankings, have never played in the World Cup finals and kick off the latest phase of their attempt to qualify for the Asian Cup on Tuesday when they take on Myanmar in Yangon.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
'We have played just two matches, and we have played well, that too against two powerful teams. It gives us that added motivation and confidence that in football, anything is possible'
Abdiev Asliddin scored in each half as Uzbekistan beat India 3-0 in a crucial Group A encounter of the AFC U-29 Championship (Qualifiers) at the Al Arabi Stadium in Doha on Thursday. Abdiev scored at the end of first half and beginning of the second, and set up another goal to hand his side three important points.
Four days after creating a flutter with a stunning 4-1 drubbing of Thailand, India are now looking an upbeat lot in the continental showpiece.
To say Sunil Chhetri and Lionel Messi in the same breath is more than a little odd, is what the talismanic Indian striker himself felt once or twice.
A look at the few bright spots, the many worries, and moments that made for a distinctly indelible 2020.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
