Striker Sunil Chhetri spoke highly of the junior talent coming through the ranks, and added that the Indian team for the upcoming Asian Games is brimming with “loads of standout talent”.
The Indian team consists primarily of under-23 players, while Chettri has been included in the preliminary squad list as one of five senior professionals. The list of under-23 players has not been announced yet.
“All the under-23 players have looked good for a long, long time now. We have loads of standout talent,” said Chhetri.
“(East Bengal’s) Lalrindika Ralte is the one of them. He should make it to the team. He is in great form, and has made huge improvements of late. I believe that he has still reached only 50 per cent of his full potential. He will be a great asset for India in the future. Siam Hangal (also of Bengaluru FC) should be in the team too, given the kind of year that he has had,” Chhetri said on Wednesday on the sidelines of a TCS World 10k function.
“The gaffer (coach Wim Koevermans) told me and (fellow Bengaluru FC striker) Robin Singh that he wanted us in the team. I am very happy to play for India.”
Chhetri, the I-League’s joint highest goal-scorer this season added that the camp would be held over two months, and that a fair assessment of the team’s chances at the Asian Games can be made only after the camp concludes. — Sports Reporter
