Uzbekistan became the first side to reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals when they beat Kuwait 2-1 on Wednesday thanks to a superb strike from former Asian player-of-the-year Server Djeparov.
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter often talks about being the head of the "football family" but if the boos that greeted his appearance at the Asian Cup final on Saturday are anything to go by, he is not too popular with his Australian cousins.
'Mr Bindra stressed the importance of marketing the game which helped Indian cricket massively. Not only have state associations become self sufficient but the cricketers have also benefitted greatly.'
Asian Individual Chess: Nihal Sarin finishes second
Hockey star Hardik Singh lone recommendation for Khel Ratna; Divya, TJ & Mehuli for Arjuna
The group stage Asian Cup exit turning out to be one bitter pill that he found too hard to swallow.
It was a mere formality for the general assembly of 74 members to put a seal of approval on India's bid after Ahmedabad was recommended as the proposed host of the centenary edition by the Commonwealth Sport's Executive Board last month. India last hosted the CWG in 2010 in Delhi.
Crisis-hit Lebanon has withdrawn from qualifying for the 2007 Asian Cup football.
'Almost all the players switched off their social media accounts.'
The president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has admitted that his organisation had made a mistake by allowing four countries to host this year's Asian Cup.
Substitute James Troisi scored halfway through extra time in a pulsating final to give tournament hosts Australia their maiden Asian Cup title with a 2-1 victory over South Korea on Saturday.
A draw against Bahrain in their final group league match will be enough for India to qualify for the round of 16 for the first time in the continent's showpiece event after failed attempts in 1984 and 2011.
The change at the helm comes in the wake of an underwhelming couple of years for Indian men's boxing.
This was Jyothi's third appearance at the World Cup Final, having earlier competed at the Tlaxcala (2022) and Hermosillo (2023) editions, where she had exited in the opening round.
Nikhat, Lovlina win titles at Boxing Nationals; Hussamuddin caps comeback with gold
Indian veteran squash player Joshna Chinappa heaped praises on teen sensation Anahat Singh, saying that she has "all the makings of a top player" and said she would be genuinely happy to see her get her hands on an Olympic medal as the sport makes its debut at the grandest event of them all during the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
"I'll give everything I have to represent Algeria in the best possible way."
'We have enough time to build towards Asian Games and World Cup.'
Williams, Bharti join camp, signalling new chapter for Indian football
14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest centurion in men's T20 cricket, will once again be the player to watch out for in the Rising Stars Asia Cup.
This final was filled with unusual happenings, and one that will stand out is India coach Gautam Gambhir seen smiling for a change!
India face hosts Tajikistan on August 29 followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
"It was a rather simple operation, so there is nothing to get seriously worried about," Yonhap News agency quoted Lee as telling a local sports Web site.
'This is the tournament we play for. We get to rub our shoulders against best in Asia which we don't get many times'
The Pakistan Under-19 team celebrated their dominant 191-run victory over India in the Under-19 Asia Cup final in Dubai by dancing to the viral 'FA9LA' track from the blockbuster Dhurandhar.
Australia beat Bahrain and South Korea swept past India as the two AFC heavyweights claimed Asian Cup quarter-final places on Tuesday. Twice champions South Korea easily beat already eliminated India 4-1 at a wet Al Gharafa Stadium to finish second in Group C and set up a last eight meeting with Group D winners Iran while Australia recorded a 1-0 win over Bahrain.
Flu-hit Iran qualified for the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup with a game to spare after a well-taken goal from Karim Ansari Fard gave them a 1-0 win over a dour North Korea side at the Qatar Sports Club on Saturday.
India lose 0-2 to Thailand in friendly match; reality check ahead of Asian Cup qualifier game
At a time when Indian football is staring at unprecedented uncertainty with its domestic season in limbo, the Asian Football Confederation on Wednesday delivered a triple blow to the country's top club
The last year proved to be a period of reflection for Nikhat Zareen, one that taught her to temper expectations while also strengthening her resolve to fulfil her dream of becoming an Olympic champion.
Eventually, the speculations cleared up after it was confirmed by the BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. He disclosed that India had refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy during the presentation ceremony from ACC Chairman Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's interior minister.
Five-time world champion M C Mary Kom (48kg) clinched her first gold medal of the year by finishing on top in the Asian Cup Women's Boxing tournament in Haikou, China.
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.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav has made it clear that the Indian team will not accept the Asia Cup from Mohsin Naqvi, who is both the Pakistan Cricket Board (chairman and Asian Cricket Council president, if India reaches the final and wins.
The Asia Cup 2025 had been simmering with tension from the very first India-Pakistan encounter, and by the time the final arrived, the animosity had reached boiling point.
This is the third time the country has qualified for the continental showpiece.
FC Goa players, including India captain Sandesh Jhingan, and support staff have accepted pay cut for the truncated ISL season starting on February 14.
Three matches, three goals, three wins and suddenly South Korea are looking like a real threat to win the Asian Cup.
Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Jordan have already taken six of Asia's eight guaranteed spots at next year's 48-team World Cup.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances