The Indian men’s football team has advanced to the second round of World Cup qualifiers and will be facing Qatar, Kuwait, and the winner of the match between Afghanistan and Mongolia. The AIFF ESPN India’s daily live blog provides regular updates on the latest developments in Indian sports, covering a variety of events throughout the day.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty started their China Masters campaign with a victory, defeating England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in straight games. They are the top seeds in the tournament, having previously reached the world No. 1 spot, and are looking to regain their top-ranking status.
It’s a big day for Indian football, as the Asian champions Qatar are set to play against the Indian team in a sold-out Kalinga Stadium. In badminton, the China Masters Super 750 tournament begins, with Indian players like Aakarshi Kashyap and HS Prannoy also in the mix. Additionally, the ISSF World Cup Finals in shooting have kicked off in Doha, with India having a strong contingent of 12 shooters.
Yesterday’s notable events included Arsene Wenger’s visit to India and his endorsement of Indian football as a “goldmine” waiting to be explored. Meanwhile, Manvir Singh, who scored the winning goal in India’s game against Kuwait, missed training ahead of the upcoming match against Qatar.