India Goalkeeper Gurpreet Informed About His Moving On From Asian Cup Disappointment

India crashed out of the AFC Asian Cup with a heartbreaking 0-1 defeat against Bahrain, who scored in the injury time. The Asian Cup ouster was a bitter pill to swallow after coming so close to qualifying for knockouts, but the top goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu of India has moved on and is hoping for winning the Indian Super League with Bengaluru FC. The 27-year-old remains the first ever Indian to play a competitive match for the first team of a top-division European club.

Gurpreet said that the Asian Cup was an incredible experience, winning our first game in 55 years and making it a close fight in the next two. He added that it was disappointing to bow out but we gave our best. He has moved on from that and looking forward to the next challenge, he told ahead of the ISL final against FC Goa.

India crashed out of the AFC Asian Cup with a heartbreaking 0-1 defeat against Bahrain in January. He has scored in the injury time, after starting the tournament with a 4-1 drubbing of Thailand in Group A. The heartbreak of the national team came months after his club lost to Chennaiyin FC in the final of last edition’s ISL.

The final of last year is history now. They have learned from that and have become a better team. Reaching the final again is an achievement in itself but they will give their best to win it. The custodian said that they would just like to play the way they have played throughout the year and do not make a lot of mistakes if they do so rest will take care of itself. He has turned out for Norwegian top division club Stabaek and is also the first Indian for playing in UEFA Europa League.

When stakeholders of Indian football at a time are seriously contemplating a merger between the ISL and I-League, Gurpreet also felt having more and more teams in a single league is the perfect way to go. He said that a league with a healthy amount of teams say 15/16, is a good idea. It is something which the authorities will decide If that happens via a merger or not. The India goalkeeper also felt the popularity of football is gradually rising. He added that it is superb to see that the game is getting popularity and not only us but the whole sporting culture is being motivated. Also, it is nice to see that they are on the right track.

By: Preeti Narula

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