India U20 Men's Squad Faces Syria in Mandiri Challenge Series Opener
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The India U20 men's team embarks on its journey in the Mandiri U20 Challenge Series, clashing with Syria in Sidoarjo, Indonesia. Under the guidance of Biby Thomas, the youthful squad aims to showcase their talent against seasoned opponents ahead of the AFC U20 Asian Cup.
Key Takeaways
- India U20 men's team to face Syria in tournament opener.
- Team features mainly under-17 and under-18 players.
- Upcoming matches include Jordan and Indonesia.
- Strong international experience within the squad.
- Syria enters the tournament with impressive recent performances.
Sidoarjo (Indonesia), Jan 23 (NationPress) The India U20 men's team is set to kick off their journey in the Mandiri U20 Challenge Series, a four-nation friendly tournament, taking on Syria at the Gelora Delta Stadium this Friday. Head coach Biby Thomas leads a 23-member squad primarily comprising under-17 and under-18 talents. They checked into their hotel in Surabaya on Wednesday morning and conducted their first training session later that evening at the Gelora Stadium.
India will also face Jordan on January 27 and host Indonesia on January 30. This tournament presents a significant challenge for the Blue Colts, who are the youngest team among the four competitors.
Syria, Jordan, and Indonesia are using these friendlies as preparation for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup, featuring players born in 2005. In contrast, Thomas's squad includes players born in 2007 and 2008, who are gearing up for the SAFF U19 Championship scheduled from May 8 to 18, 2025.
Despite their youth, the Indian team boasts significant international experience. Twelve of the 23 players were part of the India U17 squad that clinched the SAFF U17 Championship 2024 in Bhutan and narrowly missed qualifying for the AFC U17 Asian Cup last year during qualifiers in Thailand.
Midfielder Gurnaj Singh Grewal, the oldest at 18, and Malemngamba Singh Thokchom have represented India in the AFC U17 Asian Cup in 2023 and the SAFF U20 Championship last year.
Thokchom also participated in the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers. Additionally, several players are making their national team debut, including defender Afinmon Baiju, goalkeeper Alsabith Sulaiman Thekkekaramel, midfielder Jajo Prashan, and forward Sujin S.
Syria comes into the tournament in strong form after qualifying for the AFC U20 Asian Cup with a perfect record of four wins, including victories over Bangladesh (4-0), Bhutan (1-0), Guam (10-1), and Vietnam (1-0). Prior to the Mandiri U20 Challenge Series, Syria participated in three friendly matches in Qatar, against the hosts, Yemen, and Uzbekistan, all ending in 0-0 draws.
