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Tag: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

  • Every draw is difficult, must be ‘respectful and ruthless’ in opposition to opponents: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

    India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu doesn’t wish to belittle the lower-ranked opponents within the upcoming closing spherical of the Asian Cup qualifiers and mentioned the hosts must be “respectful as well as ruthless” after they kick off their marketing campaign on June 8.

    Clubbed with lower-ranked opponents in Hong Kong (147), Afghanistan (150) and Cambodia (171), world quantity 106 India are the favourites to make the minimize for the 2023 Asian Cup most important event from group D.

    “Every draw in modern-day football is a tricky one. We need to be respectful towards our opponents,” the 30-year-old Gurpreet instructed the AIFF web site.

    “Obviously, they’ve additionally been making ready for these three matches, and it’s comprehensible that they’ve completed their homework very similar to us.

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    “We can’t take anyone lightly not at this stage because the stakes are high. Even as much as we need to respect the teams we play, we need to be ruthless in our approach.” After kicking off their marketing campaign in opposition to Cambodia, India subsequent tackle Afghanistan (June 11) and Hong Kong (June 14).

    Eleven spots are up for grabs from the third and closing spherical of the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers which can be competed by 24 groups cut up into six teams in several venues of the continent.

    Six group toppers and 5 greatest runners-up will make the minimize.

    “We need to make sure we go out there to get the result. I believe we should be the one team that earns a ticket to the AFC Asian Cup 2023 from this group,” Gurpreet mentioned.

    “It is that place where we want to be again and again, and every four years. It’s a stepping stone for us. If we do well in the Asian Cup, there are more chances of us doing better at the World Cup Qualifiers,” he mentioned concerning the significance of the event.

    Sunil Chhetri and Co, who have been eradicated within the group stage of the 2019 Asian Cup, may have an opportunity to qualify for the 2023 version of the continental showpiece from group D.

    Gurpreet fondly remembers their 4-1 win over Thailand within the final version of the primary event.

    “Hopefully, we can recreate those moments again. In 2019 I was still one of the youngsters, but now I am not. I am now in the category of the older players (laughs),” he signed off.

  • After Jhingan’s untimely return from Croatia, Indian soccer should face arduous information

    There was a hint of remorse and a complete lot of disappointment in Sandesh Jhingan’s assertion, asserting his return to former Indian Super League (ISL) champions ATK Mohun Bagan.
    Arguably one of the best centre-back within the nation in the intervening time, Jhingan was left questioning the place all of it went incorrect 5 months after experiencing the very best of highs – securing a contract to play professionally in Europe. Last August, the 28-year-old grew to become the primary Indian to signal for a top-tier membership in Croatia, HNK Sibenik. At his age, it was all the time a dangerous transfer but when there’s one high quality we all know of Jhingan, it’s that he doesn’t lack braveness.

    #PleasureMohunBagan pic.twitter.com/BhFfwGBxWO
    — Sandesh Jhingan (@SandeshJhingan) January 6, 2022
    Unfortunately for him, a spate of accidents and a managerial change on the membership meant Jhingan left Sibenik and returned to India final week, with out taking part in a match or with the ability to show his value in coaching. Ultimately, on January 6, he rejoined his former workforce ATK Mohun Bagan, with whom he had signed a big-money five-year contract in September 2020.
    In his assertion, Jhingan referred to some ‘off-the-field setbacks’, with out elaborating a lot. “I am very happy to have joined ATK Mohun Bagan FC… who have supported me no matter what, especially in the past few months when me and my family both struggled a lot because of my injury and off- the-field setbacks,” he wrote. “This reminds you, that no matter how hard you work, no matter how big your plans are, you are never sure whether it will go your way or not.”

    Sandesh Jhingan is again, the story continues 💚♥️#ATKMohunBagan #PleasureMohunBagan #AmraSobujMaroon pic.twitter.com/X94RlOl5nW
    — ATK Mohun Bagan FC (@atkmohunbaganfc) January 6, 2022
    For ATK Mohun Bagan – and in addition for the Indian nationwide workforce – Jhingan’s return is nice information. For the previous, it’s an opportunity so as to add heft to their up-and-down season and for the latter, Jhingan getting constant match time, somewhat than sitting on the bench, earlier than essential Asian Cup qualifiers is a constructive improvement.
    While any effort made by a participant to step out of his consolation zone ought to be inspired, Jhingan’s case – which is yet one more incident of misadventure for an Indian participant overseas – makes it essential for Indian soccer to face some arduous information.
    In his well-researched essay in 2015, UEFA ‘A’ licence coach Richard Hood, who manages Bengaluru United, famous that for an Indian participant, ‘being good enough is just not good enough when being considered for a contract overseas – you have to scream quality with every touch and decision.’

    Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is the one Indian participant in recent times who had some match time throughout his stint in Europe. That was doable due to his willingness to sacrifice and grit it out, and the flexibility of his brokers to establish a membership – in Norway – with the right environment for him to get alternatives to play and get publicity in coaching to enhance.
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    Sandhu, although, stays an exception. The reality is that almost all Indian gamers don’t ‘scream quality’. It’s the explanation why they don’t discover a place even within the beginning 11 of their very own home league, the ISL. It’s obvious particularly for central defenders, with virtually each workforce choosing no less than one overseas participant in that place.

    It’s handy responsible the gamers and say they lack high quality. But the gamers merely are a mirrored image of the system that produces them. And the Indian soccer ecosystem, on the danger of sounding like a damaged document, remains to be not doing sufficient to develop gamers at a youth stage between the ages of 8 to 18.
    There is an effort to handle that with child leagues and youth leagues, however the variety of matches and the standard of teaching stays a lot inferior in comparison with mature soccer nations. Proper youth improvement and guaranteeing sufficient competitors are the one components that decide whether or not or not a participant will be capable to make it to the massive leagues.

    Hood cited the instance of three Indian gamers, who went for a trial with the Sheffield United academy in 2012. “…it exposed limitations in the quality of technical execution and tactical aptitude over the 90 minutes we competed as a team. They were of course comfortable but nowhere close to being counted as exceptional,” Hood had famous.
    Indian gamers first must discover a place within the first 11s of their ISL groups and draw the eye of superior leagues in Asia earlier than they will dream of taking part in in Europe. At the second, an Indian heading overseas for trials is most of the time simply an elaborate PR train during which nobody however the agent appears to profit.
    A report in Newsclick recounted the legendary Chuni Goswami’s ‘smartness’. In 1962, Goswami was supplied an opportunity to seem for trials at Tottenham Hotspur. But one in all India’s biggest gamers rejected it, the report mentioned, after he ‘perhaps realised he wasn’t as much as it.’

    It’s a lesson in self-awareness that gamers from this technology can do with.

  • ‘You can’t cease’: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu remembers Milkha Singh’s phrases

    “Tumhe rukna nahi hai (you cannot stop)”, these phrases from legendary Millkha Singh nonetheless evokes Indian soccer goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu who says the recommendation from the ‘Flying Sikh’ helped him struggle challenges throughout his European stint.
    Iconic sprinter Milkha died in Chandigarh on Friday because of COVID-19 associated issues and there was an outpouring of tributes from hundreds of countrymen, together with sportspersons.
    Gurpreet remembers a ceremony in Chandigarh in 2015 the place Milkha gave away an award to him.
    “He (Millkha) told me ‘Hard work has no replacement. I even used to vomit blood at times after training but tumhe rukna nahi hai’,” (You can’t cease!),” Gurpreet stated in an AIFF launch.
    “At that point, I used to be enjoying my membership soccer in Norway with FC Stabaek, the place every single day was a struggle to show myself and break into the beginning lineup. It was an ideal problem and dwelling overseas, there have been days when it was laborious to maintain my spirits up.

    To be capable to share the identical house with you’ll without end be a second I’ll preserve with me. RIP #MilkhaSingh pic.twitter.com/4YHPdTQnRH
    — Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (@GurpreetGK) June 19, 2021
    “However, I used to fall again on these phrases spoken to me by ‘the Flying Sikh’ himself, they had been an ideal motivator and pushed me to present my all every day.
    “The words he spoke to me are still with me and continue to be a huge source of inspiration. His words and blessings will always be with me whenever I am fighting on the football pitch for my country,” stated the 29-year-old India primary goalie who has additionally captained the nationwide staff.
    In 2014, Gurpreet turned the primary Indian footballer to play in a high division membership in Europe when he turned out for FC Stabaek of Norway.
    He stayed with FC Stabaek until 2017. In 2016, he turned the primary Indian participant to play in Europa League, European soccer’s second-tier membership competitors.
    Paying tribute to Milkha, whose greatest identified exploit was the fourth-place end on the 1960 Rome Olympics, Gurpreet stated, “Legends and their legacies live on forever.”
    “Milkha Singh-ji and his life story has influenced billions of people in India and across the world, and even though he is no more with us, he will continue to inspire future generations.”
    He stated there have to be so many extra athletes throughout the nation whose lives had been touched by the legendary Milkha and hoped they’d in a position to push themselves to the subsequent degree via his blessings and knowledge.
    “All of us grew up studying about him and his successes, and to have shared the stage with him in individual is a reminiscence I’ll all the time preserve near my coronary heart.
    “He is one of India’s greatest sports persons of all-time. His achievements on the track are second to none and even in his eighties, he was devoted religiously to fitness and always encouraged others to do the same.”

  • 10-man India lose 0-1 to Qatar in World Cup qualifying spherical match

    A ten-man India defended creditably properly as they suffered a 0-1 defeat to Asian champions Qatar of their World Cup qualifying spherical match in Doha on Thursday.
    Abdel Aziz scored within the thirty third minute in a match utterly dominated by the Qataris. The two sides had performed out a goal-less draw of their first leg match right here in September 2019.
    Group toppers Qatar, who’re but to lose a match, had waves of assaults with their eight to 9 gamers within the Indian half for more often than not. Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu needed to pull off a collection of saves to maintain the margin of loss small.

    🗣️ @GurpreetGK: “I honestly didn’t (count the number of saves), but I think it was more than last time!”
    How good was that efficiency from ‘The Wall’? #INDQAT ⚔️ #WCQ 🏆 #AgainTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/ouOTA2FluD
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 3, 2021
    India, nevertheless, performed with 10 males from the seventeenth minute onwards after defender Rahul Bheke was pink carded after a second reserving. He had earlier acquired a yellow card within the ninth minute.
    India did have two good strikes within the match from counter assaults with Manvir Singh within the thick of issues on each events.
    India captain Sunil Chhetri, who returned to the staff after recovering from COVID-19 an infection, was changed by Udanta Singh on the resumption of second half.
    A winless India remained in fourth spot in Group E with three factors from six matches.
    Igor Stimac’s males are two factors behind Afghanistan (third with 5 factors) who performed out a 1-1 draw towards Bangladesh earlier within the day.
    India play Bangladesh on June 7 of their subsequent match.

  • ‘The self-belief was immense’: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu on India’s attract Qatar

    Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the first-choice goalkeeper of India, credited the crew’s self-belief and cohesion as being the decisive elements behind India’s spectacular 0-0 draw towards Qatar in Doha in September 2019.
    The 29-year-old shot-stopper put up a heroic show between the sticks that evening, registering 11 saves within the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifier on the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium towards the AFC Asian Cup holders.
    Gurpreet, who’s presently with the nationwide crew in Doha for an upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifier towards Qatar on June 3, reminisced about that goalless attract an interview with AIFF.
    “The plan on matchday was to make life difficult for Qatar. They had won the AFC Asian Cup earlier that year and were buzzing after playing in the Copa America. We had to stay compact against them, and take our chances whenever we smelt a counter. And with that, we had to fight with everything. Everyone was desperate to contribute – everyone was trying their best,” he informed AIFF.
    “The clock started ticking, and we started to grow in confidence. The first-half ended goalless. We could gauge the frustrations around as the predictions that we would be whitewashed weren’t coming true. It allowed us to breathe a bit more. We realised we were heading in the right direction.”
    India gamers in motion towards Qatar in Doha in September 2019. (File)
    “‘Take some blows guys, we can do it,’ was the sentiment. The pressure was huge, but the belief was more.”
    “The dynamics were even better in the second half. Seeing Sahal, Udanta dribble past the best in Asia was a message which hit them hard. It was a great boost. We were not just defending, rather we were attacking and pushing them on the back foot on occasions.”
    “Almost everyone I speak to always makes me remember about the Qatar match. But if you ask me, that isn’t my best performance so far. I understand that in the Qatar match, we got a result – and hence, it will always stay a highlight,” he concluded.

  • Friendlies in opposition to robust oppositions will assist to check ourselves: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

    Indian males’s soccer staff goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu feels the friendlies in opposition to robust opponents like Oman and UAE will assist the Blue Tigers take a look at themselves as they return to worldwide motion after greater than a yr because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    The Indian males’s staff is about to play two worldwide friendlies — in opposition to Oman on March 25 and United Arab Emirates on March 29 in Dubai.
    “It’s a brilliant piece of news not just for us players but for Indian Football overall that we will be playing again at the International arena,” Sandhu was quoted as saying in an All India Football Federation (AIFF) launch.
    “Both the matches are in opposition to very robust oppositions whom we might like to play in opposition to, and take a look at ourselves.

    “With International sports having shut down owing to the pandemic situation, I am aware as to how difficult it is to arrange matches under the current scenario,” he added.
    The Blue Tigers final performed on the worldwide enviornment — within the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in opposition to Afghanistan (in Tajikistan) and Oman (in Muscat) in November 2019.
    Sandhu feels it will likely be an enormous enhance because the gamers will head to the camp straight after the Indian Super League and may have momentum on their facet.
    “The two friendlies occurring straight after the Indian Super League will probably be an enormous enhance. Most of the boys will probably be in momentum and heading straight to the nationwide camp.
    “That’s what the players always love to have that continuity heading into International Football. We are all looking forward to the boys going out and giving their best.”
    Central defender Sandesh Jhingan dubbed the forthcoming two matches as “massive”.
    “It’s a great piece of news which the entire nation was waiting for. It’s massive for the fans, and for us players as well as we haven’t played an International match in the last one and half years,” he mentioned.
    “It’s important for us to get back into the system of Igor Stimac, start training and improving,” he added.As a part of the preparation for the 2 matches in opposition to Oman and UAE, the nationwide staff will assemble in a preparatory camp in Dubai from March 15 onwards.
    “There are crucial games coming up in June which would be followed by the Qualifiers of the Asian Cup China 2023. The camp in March are just extra days to train and improve together as a team. I am extremely happy,” Jhingan mentioned.