India gears up for Hong Kong test in AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers
India, ranked 127, got off to a slow start with a draw against Bangladesh in March, while Hong Kong, China, ranked 153, could also only manage a point in Singapore.
It will be India and Hong Kong, China's 25th meeting since their first in 1951 — India leads the head-to-head with nine wins, Hong Kong, China has eight, while seven have been draws.
However, the Blue Tigers have won only once on Hong Kong, China soil, a 2-1 friendly victory in 1957. The previous meeting in 2022 went India's way as the visitor suffered a 4-0 drubbing in a rain-lashed Asian Cup qualifier in Kolkata.
Since August 2024, Hong Kong, China has been coached by Ashley Westwood, a familiar name in Indian football. The Englishman led Bengaluru FC from 2013 to 2016 and also took charge of ATK and RoundGlass Punjab FC later. He also coached the Afghanistan side that defeated India in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers last year.
Under Westwood, Hong Kong, China has only lost once in 12 matches — 0-1 to Liechtenstein in a friendly. But only two wins have come against higher-ranked opponents, Solomon Islands and the Philippines (both friendlies).
In preparation for the match against India, Hong Kong, China played a non-official friendly against Manchester United FC, which it lost 1-3 on May 30, and then a FIFA friendly against Nepal on June 5, which was a scoreless affair.
The game also marks the inaugural football match at the 50,000 seater Kai Tak Stadium, part of the Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports complex in Hong Kong.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
16 minutes ago
- NDTV
" Sochke Mooh Kholna": Jasprit Bumrah's Critics Sent Clear Message After "We Lost vs England When He Played" Remark
Jasprit Bumrah, despite being the best bowler of the current generation, came under criticism after he missed two out of five matches against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy despite being fit. Following India's Asia Cup squad announcement, ex-Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif welcomed pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah's return to the T20I set-up following a mixed outing in England where he struggled with fitness in the fourth Manchester Test, telling his critics to "open their mouths carefully" on the "promising diamond of India". Bumrah will be returning to the T20I set-up after over a year of heavy red-ball grind, which saw him also feature in tours to Australia and England. Following a record-breaking tour to Australia with 32 wickets, Bumrah took 14 wickets in three matches during the England tour, including two five-wicket hauls, but his lack of success with the new ball throughout the series and fitness issues during the fourth Manchester Test raised questions over his workload once again and whether he would play the Asia Cup for India in T20I format. Speaking about the pace spearhead's return, Kaif pointed out how Bumrah's critics pointed out that whenever he played a Test during the recently concluded England tour, India did not win. "Sochke mooh kholna (Open your mouth carefully) because you mentioned that whatever matches we played in England, we lost when he played. You better look at how many matches he has played and India won them, go and find out that as well, regardless of the format. When he plays, how many times does he give match-winning performances? Go and find that stat as well. Bumrah is a promising diamond of India. You do not report him. There are no stains on him," he said on his YouTube channel. Kaif said that as he had said in one of his previous videos, Bumrah could not be seen playing Tests for too long after his recent injury struggles, he could play white-ball games as the workload would be lesser and recovery time would be good enough too, especially if he gets rest during matches against smaller teams like Oman, UAE. "I already said that Bumrah might not be seen playing long in Tests, but in white-ball cricket, if India comes in the Asia Cup final, then he might play seven games. He will bowl 28 overs (four overs per match), and I am speaking about a two or three-week-long tournament. There is no problem in bowling 28 overs; he will get time to recover. You can rest him in one odd match against Oman or weaker teams. After workload management and a break, he will be used. I think he would not face any issues in bowling four overs. You need Bumrah in T20 because he can change the course of the game with his bowling," he added. Kaif, however, was disappointed with no Mohammed Siraj in the team sheet, saying that he will be missed because of his form, having emerged as the leading wicket-taker during the England tour with 23 scalps in five matches and bowling lengthy spells in each game. "There is no Mohammed Siraj as well, and he will be missed because of the form he was in, the way he bowled in England, bowled longer spells in each game. By bowling that much, you have the bowling form. He plays IPL and picked up wickets as well. If you see, he is bowling exceedingly well in the first 10-12 matches. So, I am surprised he was not in the 20-member side," he said. "I am disappointed because he finished the series 2-2 on his own. We know how well he bowled, and when you have the form, you want to back that bowler, and that is why I am disappointed not to see him in the Asia Cup. He is an equally brilliant bowler even in white-ball cricket," he added. During IPL 2025 for the Gujarat Titans (GT), he took 16 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 32.93, with best figures of 4/17. For India, he has taken 14 wickets in 16 T20Is at an average of 32.28, with best figures of 4/17. His last T20I for India came against Sri Lanka in July last year. India will kick off their campaign against the UAE on September 10, while the high-voltage game against Pakistan is scheduled for September 14, with both fixtures set to be played in Dubai. India will play their final group stage fixture against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi. After the group stage, the tournament will proceed to the Super 4, where the top two teams from each group will qualify. If India finishes at the top of Group A, then all of their Super 4 matches will be held in Dubai. If India finishes second, then one of their Super 4 clashes will be held in Abu Dhabi and the remaining two in Dubai. The Super 4 stage will run from September 20 to 26. Dubai will host the final, which is scheduled for September 28.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rajasthan's Norti Mewada in Indian handball team for Asian Junior Women's Handball Championship slated to be held in Tashkent from August 20-29
Jaipur: Rajasthan 's Norti Kumari Mewada has been selected in the Indian handball team for the 18th Asian Junior Women's Handball Championship slated to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from August 20 to 29. The Indian women's handball team reached Tashkent on Tuesday to participate in the prestigious tournament. The Indian women's team training camp was organised by SAI from July 18 to August 16 at the SAI National Centre of Excellence, Gandhinagar (Gujarat). Honorary secretary of Rajasthan State Handball Association, Yash Pratap Singh said that Norti, who plays in the right-wing position, is a player of the Women's Handball Academy, run by Rajasthan State Sports Council in Jaipur. It is noteworthy that the Indian junior women's team won the gold medal in the Asian Junior Women's Handball Championship held in Almaty in 2022. Varsha Jakhar and Priyanka Meena of Rajasthan were included in this team. While the manager of the team was Lalit Kumar Kalal, who is currently the president of Rajasthan State Handball Association. Indian handball team: Sujatha (SAI, captain), Aarushi (Himachal Pradesh, vice-Captain), Muskan Devi, Kanishka, Muskan (Himachal Pradesh), Anika, Swati, Diksha (Haryana), Norti Kumari Mewada (Rajasthan), Naina Yadav (Uttar Pradesh), Ishu (Golden Eagle), Lavisha Gehlawat (Chandigarh), Pradnya Balaso Mane (Maharashtra), Ashia, Tannu, Tamanna, Sarika Kumari, Shalu (SAI). Coaches: Sachin Chaudhary, Arun Saini, Kanta Parashar, Shravan Arora. Physio: Ankita Prajapati. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Neeraj Chopra to skip Brussels Diamond League
New Delhi [India], August 20 (ANI): The current javelin throw world champion and Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra will skip the Brussels Diamond League, reported the on competition will take place in Belgium on Friday. With Neeraj having sealed his spot for the Zurich Diamond League final on August 27-28 with 15 points from his past two Diamond League appearances this season, Neeraj can take this time to freshen himself up for his world title men's javelin throw final, which will decide the 2025 Diamond League champion, will be held on August 28. Neeraj is a 2022 Diamond League champion and a runner-up in 2023 and 2024. He is yet to announce his participation for the final in Zurich, though. Brussels meet would be the fourth and final Diamond League event scheduled for this year, with men's javelin throw category in it. Neeraj has opted to skip this one, just like he opted out of the Silesia Diamond League earlier this month. Neeraj finished runner-up in the 2024 Diamond League final with his best throw of 87.86 m, losing to Grenada's Anderson Peters by barest of the margins of one Indian superstar has enjoyed a spectacular start to the 2025 took the top honours in the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a competition named after him at Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru last month. The reigning javelin throw champion stood triumphant with kickstarted with a win at the Potch Invitational in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in April and followed it up with a very special second-place finish at Doha Diamond League, where he crossed the 90-metre mark for the first time ever, with a throw of 90.23 also went on to secure a second spot in the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland later that month and resumed his winning ways with back-to-back titles at Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike this month, with best efforts of 88.16 m and 85.29 m. Most recently came his NC Classic triumph in front of his home will defend his world title in the World Athletics Championships scheduled for Tokyo from September 13-21. During the previous edition, Neeraj had finished ahead of Nadeem to win the gold, becoming the first-ever Indian to land a gold at the marquee event. (ANI)
