India U20 men beat Singapore 1-0 in second Bengaluru friendly
Synopsis
India's Blue Colts swept Singapore in both Bengaluru friendlies — 3-0 and 1-0 — with goals from largely uncapped youngsters. With 102 players trialled and a Tashkent qualifier against Syria, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh just weeks away, coach Mahesh Gawali is stress-testing his squad at pace. The clean sheet and the clean sweep send a confident signal ahead of the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
Key Takeaways
India U20 men defeated Singapore 1-0 in the second closed-door friendly at the Centre for Sports Excellence, Bengaluru on 7 August 2025 .
Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum scored the winner in the 5th minute ; India also won the first friendly 3-0 on Monday.
Head coach Mahesh Gawali selected from a 30-player squad shortlisted from 102 national trialists .
15 players are temporarily released for the RFDL Japan Tour (8 Punjab FC, 6 Bengaluru FC, 1 FC Goa) and will rejoin next week.
India face Syria , Uzbekistan , and Bangladesh in the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers in Tashkent from 31 August to 6 September 2025 .
The India U20 men's national team completed a dominant double over Singapore, defeating them 1-0 in the second closed-door friendly at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru on Thursday, 7 August 2025. The result follows a 3-0 victory in the first match on Monday, giving the Blue Colts a clean sweep of the two-game series as they sharpen preparations for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
The Winning Moment
Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum netted the only goal of the match in the 5th minute, giving India an early lead they held for the full 90. In the opener on Monday, Rishi Singh Ningthoukhongjam struck in the 45+2nd minute and Singamayum Shami added a second in the 63rd minute, before Singapore conceded an own goal in the 83rd minute to complete a 3-0 rout.
Squad Build-Up and Selection Process
Head coach Mahesh Gawali named his starting XI from a trimmed 30-player squad, itself shortlisted from 102 players who attended national trials ahead of the camp. Following further evaluation, 26 players were retained for full training. Notably, 15 players have been temporarily released to their clubs for the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) Japan Tour — eight from Punjab FC, six from Bengaluru FC, and one from FC Goa. They are expected to rejoin the national camp upon returning from Japan next week.
Historical Context: India vs Singapore at U20 Level
The two nations have a long, if infrequent, rivalry at youth level. India won both previous official U20 encounters in the AFC Youth Championship — a 4-1 victory in 1966 and a penalty shootout triumph in the quarter-finals during their title-winning campaign in 1974. A pair of U19 international friendlies in Goa in 2017 produced split results: India won the first 7-2 before Singapore claimed the second 1-0. This week's clean sweep adds further weight to India's recent dominance in the fixture.
What Lies Ahead: AFC U20 Qualifiers in Uzbekistan
The Blue Colts will travel to Tashkent, Uzbekistan for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers, scheduled from 31 August to 6 September 2025. India's group stage fixtures pit them against Syria on 31 August, hosts Uzbekistan on 3 September, and Bangladesh on 6 September. The preliminary squad for the qualifiers will be finalised after further evaluations at the camp. A strong showing in Tashkent could set the tone for India's broader ambitions in continental youth football.
Point of View
But the real measure of this camp is squad depth, not scorelines against a limited opponent. Gawali's decision to trial 102 players before settling on 30 signals a deliberate attempt to widen the national pool — a structural positive for Indian youth football. The tougher question is whether the 15 players away on club duty in Japan will slot back in seamlessly, or whether their absence disrupts the team's chemistry at a critical juncture. The Tashkent group — Syria, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh — is a genuine step up, and India's qualifying record at U20 level demands improvement. These friendlies buy confidence; the qualifiers will demand considerably more.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of India U20 vs Singapore second friendly?
India U20 men defeated Singapore 1-0 in the second closed-door friendly at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru on 7 August 2025. Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum scored the only goal in the 5th minute.
How did India perform across both friendlies against Singapore?
India won both matches convincingly — 3-0 in the first friendly on Monday and 1-0 in the second on Thursday. Rishi Singh Ningthoukhongjam, Singamayum Shami, and an own goal contributed to the first win; Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum sealed the second.
Who is coaching the India U20 men's team?
Mahesh Gawali is the head coach of the India U20 men's national team. He selected his squad for the Singapore friendlies from 30 players, who were shortlisted from 102 trialists from across the country.
When and where are the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers?
The AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 31 August to 6 September 2025. India are placed in a group with Syria, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh.
Why were 15 India U20 players temporarily released from the camp?
Fifteen players were released at the request of their clubs to participate in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) Japan Tour. The group includes eight from Punjab FC, six from Bengaluru FC, and one from FC Goa, and they are expected to rejoin the national camp after returning from Japan next week.
