China vs India Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Time: 17:00 (IST)
Venue: Yellow Dragon Sports Center, Hangzhou
China vs India Match Preview
Hosting the Asian Games for the third time in their history, China will hope to replicate the Gold medal winning sides of 1954 and 1958 in the men’s football tournament when the team competed as Taiwan (Republic of China). Since their bronze victory in the 1998 Games, the Dragon’s Team have failed to clinch any medal this century. The women’s team have been the dominant force instead bagging gold in the first three editions from 1990 and clinched the silver medal last time in 2018. The men’s side is hoping for a similar impact grouped with India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Under head coach Dejan Djurdjevic, China will open the 2023 edition of the Asian Games against India. They have not lost this fixture in the Asian Games as well as in 15 other meetings. However, The Blue Tigers cannot be taken lightly even with a depleted squad with their recent impressive displays giving them enough spirit for the competition. Nevertheless, the hosts are favourites to top Group A and move into the last-16 stage. A win in the first game will give them the required momentum for the rest of the tournament.
Embroiled in a tussle for an ideal squad choice for the Games between the federation and the league with its club, India have finally arranged a 21-member team of available players travelling to Hangzhou. A lot of players have not been released by their clubs from the initial called list due to the Asian Games not falling under the FIFA window and its date clashing with the start of the domestic league that is ISL and AFC competitions. After not being allowed to participate four years ago, India are back at the continental stage but not before convincing the sports ministry to overturn the decision to block entries once again. However, the Blue Tigers will not come into the Games with much joy at least before the first game with no time for preparation or a proper camp due to the chaos of releasing players. The men’s team landed in China just a day before facing the hosts that too without a fully strengthened team. The idea for Igor Srimac’s team is to somehow see off the toughest challenge in the group and target the other two games for knockout qualification. India’s last medal in the Asian Games came way back in 1970 after their Gold success in 1951 and 1962.
China vs India Team News
China will have a full squad to choose from with Liu Yang, Gao Tianyi and Tan Long the three overage players in the team. While India are also injury-free, Igor Stimac is unlikely to field captain Sunil Chhetri or Sandesh Jhingan in the first match who are the overage players alongside Chinglensana. The reason is due to the circumstances leading to inadequate preparations. Chhetri has also not played in the King’s Cup early this month for paternity leave with his last game minutes coming in the SAFF Championship two months ago. There is more to conjure for the manager as the team is light in midfield and full-back position giving a headache for selection.
China vs India Head to Head
China won - 3
Drawn - 1
India won - 0
(In Asian Games)
Squads
China
Goalkeeper: Han Jiaqi, Peng Peng, Huang Zihao
Defenders: Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, He Yupeng, Sun Qinhan, Yeljan Shinar, Liu Yang*
Midfielders: Gao Tianyi*, Li Yongjia, Wang Haijian, Xu Haoyang, Huang Jiahui, Dai Wai Tsun, Ablahan Haliq
Forwards: Fang Hao, Zhang Wei, Wang Zhenao, Tan Long*, Tao Qianglong, Liu Zhurun
Head Coach: Dejan Djurdjevic
India
Goalkeepers: Gurmeet Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Vishal Yadav
Defenders: Sumit Rathi, Narender Gahlot, Deepak Tangri, Sandesh Jhingan*, Chinglensana Singh*, Lalchungnunga
Midfielders/Wingers: Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Samuel James, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Abdul Rabeeh, Rohit Danu, Vincy Bareto, Azfar Noorani, Bryce Miranda, Aniket Jadhav
Forwards: Rahul KP, Gurkirat Singh, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri
Head Coach: Igor Stimac
*Overage players
