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With the Indian domestic season about to draw curtains, this will be remembered as yet another memorable one. The Indian Super League has its share of promising moments while the I-League was no less. The clash of interests between the two leagues continued throughout, which has been one of the main highlights.
Real Kashmir FC created history by becoming the first team from the area to participate in the I-League, while some of their matches were shifted due to unfavorable conditions. The national team bowed out of the AFC Asian Cup after a thrilling win over Thailand, which was India's first in the continental meet after decades!
Bengaluru FC clinched their first ever ISL title after a win over FC Goa in the final. An extra-time winner from Rahul Bheke was enough for Sunil Chhetri and Co. to claim the coveted trophy. Bengaluru FC created history by becoming the first club to win each of the major trophies in the Indian domestic circuit, the I-league, Federation Cup, Super Cup, and the ISL.
Let us have a look at the 5 things to look forward in Indian football:
#5 AFC U-23 Championship
India’s next big assignment is the 2019 AFC U-23 Championship which kicks-off in March in Uzbekistan. Indian footballers knocking at the door of the national team will get an opportunity to prove themselves in the big stage. This will be a tournament for the future stars of Indian football, which makes it such an important competition.
The ‘Blue Tigers’ are scheduled to play against the hosts on March 22, followed by two other fixtures. Tajikistan will face-off against India a couple of days later. In the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attacks, the match between Indian and Pakistan has been canceled. The AFC is yet any decision about the fate of the high-voltage match.
Also see : women's world cup 2019, womens world cup schedule
#4 Women's U23 Olympic qualifiers
The Indian eves got off to a flier in the Hero Gold Cup in Bhubaneswar earlier this year after defeating heavyweights Iran but lost track courtesy of double defeats against Nepal and Myanmar. Incidentally, India is clubbed with Nepal, Myanmar, and Indonesia in the Olympic qualifiers.
After a first-round exit in the Turkish Women’s Cup, it is a time to mend their ways before the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying rounds gets underway next month. The Turkish Cup was a preparatory tournament for the qualifiers but it seems that the players did not make the most of it, even though a lot of mistakes have been identified from the fixtures.
More importantly, India will be hosting the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup next year, which is a huge boost for the sport in our country. The men's team has got a lot of exposure from various tournaments like the AFC Cup, now its time that the women also get their due importance.
#3 AFC Cup
The AFC Cup has been the main aim of the Indian clubs apart from the domestic competitions. Chennaiyin FC edged past Colombo FC in a two-legged play-off for the group stages of the continental event. Even though the defending champions had a disappointing Indian Super League season, John Gregory’s side will be eager to revive the remainder of the season.
The ‘Marina Machans’ are clubbed with Indian side Minerva Punjab FC, Manang Marshyangdi and Dhaka Abahani in Group ‘E’ of the main draws. It is likely that they will go through to the next round. On the first match day, Chennayin FC will go head to head against India’s Minerva Punjab FC next month.
On the other hand, the defending I-League champions also had a poor season, finishing in the 10th position. The AFC Cup will be an uphill task for them, but facing an Indian opponent in the first match itself will give them an advantage. The inclusion of Mahmoud Al Amna can be a vital factor for the Punjab-based side.
#2 Hero Super Cup
With the Federation Cup stalled by the AIFF, the Super Cup became the primary knock-out tournament in Indian football. Even though everything went smoothly last year with Bengaluru FC claiming the trophy, this edition has been a farce. With most of the I-League teams withdrawing from the annual event citing negligence by the governing bodies towards them.
Till now, most of the matches have been canceled while the opponents were given a walkover. As many as eight I-League clubs joined hands to protest to safeguard their interest. But nothing substantial has emerged, as the AIFF is yet to give a reply on any matter which has been pitched by the I-League clubs.
The notable fact about the Super Cup is that the competition in itself is a dull affair because there is no incentive to perform well. The Indian Super League winner gets a chance to play in the AFC Cup while the I-League winners get a shot at the AFC Champions League qualifying, while the winners of the Super Cup? Well, just gets the trophy!
#1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
India narrowly missed out on a chance to qualify for the knock-out stages of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, but the spirited display promised better days in the future. With FIFA in talks for an expansion for a 48-team World Cup in Qatar three years later, this might just be India’s opportunity to storm into the International stage.
The ‘Blue Tigers’ have had very forgettable qualifiers the last time when they lost 7 out of the 8 matches in the second phase itself. More importantly, they lost against weaker opponents like Guam and Turkmenistan. We are hopeful of a turnaround this time though.
India's thumping 4-1 win over Thailand was a glimpse of what the ‘Blue Tigers’ are capable of. The rankings have improved in the past couple of years and the youngsters like Asique Kuruniyan, Anirudh Thapa and Rahul Bheke has taken Indian football to a whole new level. The qualifiers will be the ultimate test for the national team in the near future.
