Northeast, August 18, 2024 — Ranjan Chaudhuri, the head coach of India’s Under-20 football team, has announced Ricky Meetei Haobam as captain and Ebindas Yesudas as vice-captain for the upcoming SAFF U20 Championship. The decision was made as the team arrived in Kathmandu on Friday, ahead of their opening match.
Coach Chaudhuri stressed the significance of a strong start to the tournament. “Our first match will be crucial in setting the tone for the rest of the competition,” he said during a pre-tournament press conference.
As the defending champions, the Indian squad is highly motivated and aware of the expectations tied to their title. Chaudhuri noted, “We’re looking forward to the challenges that come with being defending champions.”
Captain Ricky Meetei Haobam shared this sense of responsibility, adding, “Everyone expects us to perform well again. We’re fully focused on winning the tournament.”
India, placed in Group B, will kick off their campaign against Bhutan on Monday, followed by a match against the Maldives on Friday. Both games are set to start at 2:45 pm IST.
Following the SAFF Championship, the team will head to Laos for the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers in September. However, Chaudhuri emphasized that their immediate focus remains on securing success in the SAFF Championship.
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