Asian Games 2023: Despite adding Jhingan, Chinglensana, midfield remains a concern for football team

After days of confusion over the composition of the squad and whether the national team coach would accompany it to Hangzhou, the All India Football Federation was able to prise players like Sandesh Jhingan and Chinglensana Singh away from their clubs to make up a customary 22-member squad for the Asian Games.

The AIFF was also able to confirm that head coach Igor Stimac would indeed be heading to China with the players after initially being reluctant to go with the hastily-assembled 17-member squad led by Sunil Chhetri that had been announced earlier.

The federation also announced that East Bengal attacker Naorem Mahesh Singh will undergo a medical test before any decision to induct him into the squad will be taken. All this has only added to the uncertainty with India’s opening group game against China scheduled for Tuesday.

“It’s a wonderful development that some experienced players have been added to the Asian Games squad, who will certainly help the cause of the team. I’m thankful to FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) and AIFF for making it happen. Whoever represents India, together we will be honoured to defend the flag,” Stimac told a website.

The initial squad released had just 17 players including only two specialist defenders. By adding Jhingan – a regular senior for the national team – and Chinglensana who was also a regular in the national set-up until recently, the Indian team shores up the centre of its defence, an area that looked heavily compromised earlier. The addition of Chinglensana gives the Manipuri defender valuable minutes to challenge the established central defensive partnership of Jhingan and Anwar Ali ahead of the World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup in January.

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