FIFA World Cup Qualifier: India announce 23-man final squad

He coach Igor Stimac on Saturday named a 23-member Indian football squ for FIFA World Cup qualifier against Banglesh to be played in Kolkata on Tuesday. Defenders Sandesh Jhingan and Anwar Ali (Jr) were ruled out match to be played at VYBK Stium due to injuries, while Halicharan Narzary, Farukh Choudhary and Nishu Kumar did t make it to final 23 and were released from national camp here.

India's bid to qualify for World Cup

"Halicharan, Farukh and Nishu gave ors a tough run for money and decision was t an easy one. y came very close to ir competitors. It was, in fact, a tough decision to take," Stimac said.

Seasoned defensive bulwark Jhingan suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear on his left knee during team's 1-1 draw against Guwahati-based rth East United in a friendly on Wednesday and he will undergo a surgery that may rule him out for six months.

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"Sandesh has suffered on his left knee ACL tear and needs to undergo surgery. It usually takes 6 months to return to sport. He will be monitored constantly during rehabilitation phase so that he comes back on field sooner," Team Physio Gigy George said.

"Sandesh is our Iron-man. He will be missed in Kolkata but kwing him, I'm pretty sure, he'll come back much stronger," Stimac stated.

Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who led from front as captain in drawn match against Asian champions Qatar in Doha, termed ruling out of Sandesh as 'a big loss' for Blue Tigers.

"It's really s. It's a big loss for us, especially at this moment. I could imagine how would he feel missing this game but he's a strong guy and he'll come back strongly soon," Sandhu said. Indian team will reach Kolkata on Sunday.

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23-member Indian Squ

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Kamaljit Singh. Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, il Khan, Narender, Sarthak Golui, Anas Edathodika, Mandar Rao Desai, Subhasish Bose.

Midfielders: Udanta Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Vinit Rai, Anirudh Thapa, Abdul Sahal, Raynier Fernandes, Brandon Fernandes, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan. Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Balwant Singh, Manvir Singh.

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