Bengaluru, August 2: The head coach of the India U-20 men’s team, Mahesh Gawli, announced a 30-member squad on Sunday for two international friendly matches against Singapore. These matches are scheduled for August 3 and 6 in Bengaluru, as part of the preparations for the FC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifiers.
Both matches will be held behind closed doors at the Center for Sports Excellence and will kick off at 7 PM IST.
The squad consists of four goalkeepers, 12 defenders, 11 midfielders, and 10 forwards. The coaching staff aims to enhance team balance through these two matches before the continental qualifiers in Tashkent next month.
The Indian U-20 team’s training is taking place at The Sports School and the Center for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, where 102 players from across the country participated in a rigorous selection process. The final team was formed after this selection.
India has been placed in Group B of the FC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifiers alongside host Uzbekistan, Syria, and Bangladesh. The Indian team will begin its campaign against Syria on August 31, followed by matches against Uzbekistan on September 3 and Bangladesh in Tashkent on September 6.
The qualifiers will be played in a centralized single round-robin format, with eight group winners and seven best second-placed teams qualifying for the FC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027.
India and Singapore have faced each other twice in official U-20 competitions before, with India winning both encounters. India secured a 4-1 victory in 1966 and triumphed in a penalty shootout during the quarter-finals in 1974. The two teams also played two U-19 friendlies in Goa in 2017, where India won the first match 7-2, but Singapore claimed the second match 1-0.
India U-20 Team:
Goalkeepers: Jaskaran Dabb, Pranav Sundaraman, Shuhaid Koya Thangal PS, Suraj Singh Ahimbam.
Defenders: Arshveer Singh, Ashar Rebello, Aashik Adhikari, Bangson Singh Takhelambam, Karish Soram, Malemangamba Singh Thokchom, Sumit Sharma Brahmachariyum, Yaifarembam Chingakham.
Midfielders: Aniket Yadav, Dallalamuan Gangte, Danny Meitei Laishram, Lewis Jungminlun, MD Arbash, Rishi Singh Ningthoukhongjam, Rishikant Meitei Laishram, Samson Ahongshangbam, Shami Singamayum.
Forwards: Agastya Bhat, Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam, Hatim Ali, Nirupam Gowda H, Omang Dodum, Prashan Jajo, Rohen Singh Chapmayum, Vishal Yadav, Yohan Benjamin.
Support staff includes head coach Mahesh Gawli, assistant coach MG Ramachandran, goalkeeping coach Parshuram Salwadi, and strength and conditioning coach Anugrah Suresh.
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