Nearly two decades later, Aditi Chauhan retires as a trailblazer, having become the first Indian woman to play professional football in Europe.
Khalid Jamil's rise can't exactly be termed as meteoric but the last eight years has been nothing less than extraordinary for the 48-year-old, who on Friday took over reins of the national men's football team.
AIFF to write to SAFF regarding Nepal holding up SAFF women's semifinal match
The squad announcement also marks the return of East Bengal's dependable central defender Anwar Ali, who had been sidelined since February due to a hamstring injury. He last featured in competitive action against Bengaluru FC in the ISL.
Captain Ashalata Devi will become the first Indian woman footballer to play 100 international matches when she takes the field in the SAFF Championship opening match against Pakistan in Kathmandu on Thursday.
Having endured a topsy-turvy start to their campaign before a fine turnaround, seven-time champions India start as title favourites when they take on first-time finalists Nepal in the summit clash of the SAFF Championships, in Male, on Saturday.
Defending champions India held their nerves to beat Lebanon in the penalty shootout and set up a title clash against Kuwait.
India's men's football team played out a 1-1 draw against Nepal in an international friendly, in Kathmandu on Thursday, thanks to substitute Anirudh Thapa's equaliser after the hosts grabbed the lead.
The Indian men's football team will kick-start its preparations for the next month's SAFF Championships in Maldives with the first of the two international friendly matches against Nepal in Kathmandu on Thursday.
Sunil Chhetri's late goal earned India the 1-0 victory over Nepal in the SAFF Championship, at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives, on Sunday. The victory took India to third in the group standings with five points, just a behind Maldives and Nepal, both of whom have six points each.
India was on Sunday drawn in a tricky group along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Singapore for the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers final round matches, beginning March 25 next year.
The match against India on Tuesday, will be his first outing in a Bangladesh jersey.
Second half goals by Unesh Budathoki (49th) and Subash Bam (68th) sealed the issue for Nepal in the second-half.
Sunil Chhetri equalled the iconic Lionel Messi with his 80th international strike as an inspired India blanked Nepal 3-0 for their eighth SAFF Championship title, in Male, on Saturday. India extended their domination in the regional tournament thanks to second half goals from Chhetri (49th minute), Suresh Singh (50th) and Sahal Abdul Samad (90th).
Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri scored a hattrick as India handed Pakistan a 4-0 loss in their SAFF Championship match in Bengaluru.
All India Football Federation General Secretary Alberto Colaco has been elected new general secretary of South Asian Football Federation for a four-year term.
Hosts India clinched the SAFF Championships title for the ninth time after beating Kuwait 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout.
India had earlier registered comfortable victories over Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
'At the same time, this may encourage some youngsters in some parts of the country to pursue football.'
Tuesday's match holds importance for India as any slip-up could be disastrous in their bid to make it to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
India produced a clinical display to beat Nepal 3-1 to enter the final of the SAFF Women's Football Championship at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri on Monday.
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has decided to start a new tournament, SAFF Club Championships, with the inaugural edition to be held in Bangladesh from September 1-15.
The India U-17 boys came up with a brutal performance, hammering Brunei 13-0 in their opening Group D game of the U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Chonburi on Wednesday.
Indian football team's hopes of rising in FIFA rankings have been dashed with cancellation of two international friendlies against Philippines and Malaysia owing to rescheduling of the SAFF Cup.
India team thrashed Bangladesh 5-1 in a Group A match of the third SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Women's Football Championship in Islamabad on Saturday.
India's premier shot-stopper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu went for the tried and tested formula of defending penalty kicks -- predict a side and dive, leaving the outcome to chance.
India sweep past 10-man Nepal to win SAFF U-17 title
Former hockey captain P R Sreejesh was chosen for the Padma Bhushan, while Ravichandran Ashwin was among the Padma Shri winners.
A late extra-time goal by Gourmangi Singh gave India a 2-1 victory over Bhutan in the semi-final of the tournament.
Gurkirat's brace alongside Aman Chetri's strike proved to be the difference between the two sides in India's last league match.
'From passing the ball in the right passages to the defence to amazing guarding of the goals by Sandhu throughout the tournament it has been a top notch performance from the entire squad.'
India thrashed the Maldives 5-0 in their last group league match to enter the semi-finals in the Under-16 SAFF Championship, at the Dashrath stadium, in Kathamandu, Nepal, on Friday. The victory enabled the Indian colts finish second in Group A.
Talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri struck twice to lead a beleaguered India to a 3-1 win over hosts Maldives in their final league match and enter the title clasg of the SAFF Championships in Male on Wednesday.
India overcame stubborn resistance to beat a spirited Maldives 3-2 and enter the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championships for a record 10th time after the in-form Jeje Lalpekhlua struck twice in a thrilling semi-final, in Thiruvananthapuram, on Thursday.
Assistant coach Mahesh Gawli will have to take his place.
Two delectable strikes from magical Manvir Singh and an opportunistic header from substitute Sumeet Passi helped defending champions India breeze past Pakistan 3-1 to romp into the final of the SAFF Suzuki Cup.
Having already booked their place in the semifinals, a relaxed Indian women's team simply toyed with an out of sorts Bhutan, thrashing them 11-0 in their last group engagement of the SAFF Championship on Colombo on Tuesday.
Defending champions India lost 0-1 to Maldived in the final of the SAFF championships.
Defending champions India fought back from a goal down to defeat Nepal 3-1 and retain the Women's SAFF Football Championship in Colombo on Sunday.
