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NDTV
26-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Thailand A Good Test Before Hong Kong, Says Midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam
The preparations in the Indian men's national team camp are in full swing in Kolkata as the Blue Tigers gear up for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Final Round match against Hong Kong on June 10. Midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam believes that the friendly game against Thailand on June 4 will be the perfect way to groom for the all-important clash in Kowloon, Hong Kong. "The good thing is that we will be playing a friendly against Thailand, who are a similar opponent, in my opinion," said Suresh. "We got 15 to 20 days of break after the domestic season, and we started our camp on the 18th of this month. We're getting into form day by day, and it's very important to play an international friendly match before Hong Kong. So, it will be a very good test for us and we will know where we are." The last time India faced Thailand (a 1-0 win for the Blue Tigers in June 2019), Wangjam was still part of the Indian Arrows and hadn't made his senior international debut yet. However, he does have the experience of facing Hong Kong before — a 4-0 win at the previous AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Kolkata in June 2022. With 33 caps to his name so far, that remains Wangjam's biggest win in India's blue so far. But the 24-year-old recalled that despite what the scoreline suggested, it wasn't an easy game at all. "We played against Hong Kong last time in the Asian Cup Qualifiers. They were a good team, well organised, so it will be a very tough game, especially away from home. We are preparing well. It's been six sessions here, and we're looking sharper day by day. Everyone knows that only one team will qualify for the Asian Cup, so it's very important for us to take as many points as we can," said the Bengaluru FC man. The last Asian Cup Qualifiers were held in a centralised location in a single round-robin format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The AFC reverted to the original home-and-away format for the final round of the qualifiers this time, which means each team will play six games across 12 months from March 2025 to March 2026. India's Group C contains Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangladesh, against whom the Blue Tigers drew 0-0 on the first matchday. Only the group winner will book their place in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. "If you ask any player or staff, the long-term goal is to qualify for the Asian Cup, but we have to take it game by game. For now, we are only focusing on Hong Kong. The fans are always behind us. Just be with us through thick and thin. "Hong Kong are in good form, but we will be just focusing on ourselves. We have been analysing our opponents and we'll stick to our plan and see what happens when we go out and play against them," said Wangjam. Listen to the latest songs, only on
India Gazette
25-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
'Long-term goal is to qualify for Asian Cup': Indian football team midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India] May 26 (ANI): The Indian senior men's football team have been preparing for the upcoming June FIFA window at the National Centre of Excellence (NCE) in Kolkata. The camp is progressing as per schedule as the Blue Tigers gear up for a vital phase in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers campaign. India, currently ranked 127th in the FIFA rankings, will face Thailand in an international friendly on June 4 at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani. The fixture is seen as a crucial test ahead of India's Group C clash against Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Final Round, scheduled for June 10. Speaking about the team's objectives, midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam emphasized the importance of staying focused and taking one game at a time. 'See, the long-term goal, if you ask every player or even the staff, is to qualify for the Asian Cup, but we have to take it game by game. Now, we will be focusing only on Hong Kong,' he said. 'The good thing is that we will be playing one friendly game against Thailand, which in my opinion is a similar opponent. So, it will be a very good test for us before the match against Hong Kong,' he added. Wangjam also had a message for the supporters, 'The fans are always behind us. Just be with us.' On May 28, the team will fly to Thailand, where they will conduct additional training sessions before facing the hosts. Following the friendly, the squad will head directly to Hong Kong to acclimatize and train ahead of the must-win qualifier. India's Group C campaign began with a frustrating goalless draw against Bangladesh in March, a result that left head coach Manolo Marquez visibly disappointed. Similarly, Hong Kong and Singapore also played out a 0-0 draw, leaving all four teams tied on one point after the first round of fixtures. While Thailand, ranked 99th in the world, holds a historical edge over India with 12 wins from 26 encounters, the Blue Tigers have had the upper hand in recent meetings. In 2019, India recorded a memorable 4-1 victory over Thailand at the AFC Asian Cup, followed by a 1-0 win in Buriram to claim the bronze medal at the King's Cup. (ANI)
