Asian Games 2023: Indian football team face China in campaign opener - get full schedule

The Indian men’s football team will kick off their Asian Games 2023 campaign against hosts China at the Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, China on Tuesday, September 19.

Under head coach Igor Stimac, the Indian football team will compete at the Asian Games after a gap of nine years.

As many as 23 national teams will feature at the Asian Games 2023 men’s football tournament. These participating teams have been divided into six groups.

India have been placed in Group A alongside China, Bangladesh and Myanmar. 

Currently ranked 99th in the FIFA rankings, the Blue Tigers are later scheduled to face Bangladesh at the Xiaoshan Sports Centre Stadium on Thursday, September 21.

Igor Stimac’s men will lock horns with Myanmar in their final Group A clash on Sunday, September 24.

China are the top-ranked side in Group A with a FIFA ranking of 80, followed by India at 99. Meanwhile, Myanmar are placed 160th, while Bangladesh are on 189th position.

Ahead of the Asiad 2023, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a revised 17-member Indian squad for the Asian Games 2023.

Indian talisman Sunil Chhetri will lead the young squad at Hangzhou 2023. Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and defender Sandesh Jhingan, who were included in the initial squad, have been omitted in the final 17-man list.

Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Narender Gahlot, Rahul KP, Rahim Ali, Gurkirat Singh and Aniket Jadhav will be some of the players to watch out for.

Since 2002, Asian Games men’s football tournament has been an Under-23 event, with each team allowed a maximum of three players above 23 years.

The Indian men’s football team will make their ninth appearance at the Asian Games. Previously, India won gold medals at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games. They also bagged bronze at the 1970 Asiad. 

Indian men’s football team Asian Games 2023 schedule and live match times

All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Indian men’s football team Asian Games 2023 squad

Indian football team: Gurmeet Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Sumit Rathi, Narender Gahlot, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Samuel James, Rahul KP, Abdul Rabeeh Anjukandan, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Bryce Miranda, Azfar Noorani, Rahim Ali, Vincy Bareto, Sunil Chhetri, Rohit Danu, Gurkirat Singh, Aniket Jadhav

Where to watch the Indian football team’s matches at the Asian Games 2023 live?

The Indian football team’s matches at Asian Games 2023 will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network’s TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the Indian football team’s matches at Asiad 2023 will be available on SonyLIV app and website.

Photo credit: Alamy