India ready for big battle against Argentina
London
India's women’s hockey team is ready to fight hard as they face world number two Argentina in two FIH Pro League matches on June 17 (today) and 18 at London’s Lee Valley Hockey Centre. Despite losing narrowly to Australia, Indian captain Salima Tete says the team will not give up easily.
“Argentina is one of the best in the world, but we’ll give it our all in both matches,” Salima said. “We’ve trained hard and have strategies in place to win crucial points.”
India is ranked seventh in the league standings with nine points, while Argentina stands second and has already won seven of their twelve matches. The Indian team knows the challenge is tough but remains hopeful of strong performances.
Vice-captain Navneet Kaur echoed Salima’s confidence. “We gave Australia a strong fight, and we’ll do the same against Argentina. A win here will not only give us points but also lift our morale ahead of our next games in Antwerp and Berlin.”
The matches against Argentina are part of India’s European leg of the league, which includes fixtures against Belgium and China later. Winning against Argentina could give India a vital push in the standings and much-needed confidence going forward.
With determination and team spirit high, India aims to make a mark in the remaining league matches. Both upcoming games will test their strength, but the team believes they can rise to the occasion and surprise their higher-ranked rivals.
India U23 team picked for Tajikistan friendlies
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New Delhi
India’s Under-23 men’s football team coach Naushad Moosa has named a 23-player squad for two friendly matches in Tajikistan. These games are part of India’s build-up to the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers in September.
The team left for Tajikistan on Monday after training in Kolkata since June 1. India will face Tajikistan on June 18 and Kyrgyz Republic on June 21. Both matches will be held at the Hisor Central Stadium, near Dushanbe.
“These matches will show us where we stand,” said Moosa. “We did well in practice games, but these upcoming teams are stronger, and that will help us prepare better.”
Three players – Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Ayush Chhetri and Tekcham Abhishek Singh – joined the squad after playing for the senior team in the recent FIFA window.
Moosa stressed the importance of these matches. “Facing good opponents now helps us get ready to meet strong teams like Qatar and Bahrain in the qualifiers,” he explained.
India’s squad features a mix of defenders, midfielders and forwards, with goalkeepers Mohd Arbaz, Priyansh Dubey and Sahil in charge of the net. The coaching team includes Remus Gomes as assistant coach, Dipankar Choudhary as goalkeeper coach and Diwakar Manohar as the fitness expert.
These games are key to evaluating the team’s progress and deciding final plans for the upcoming qualifiers.
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India’s friendlies in Tajikistan:
– June 18: India vs Tajikistan
– June 21: India vs Kyrgyz Republic
