In the stands

LOOKING AT LIFTING THE TROPHY: As India get ready for their opening match of the AFC Asian Cup 2024 in Qatar, top player Sandesh Jhingan said he is confident he will be seeing the Indian senior football team will one day qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

Jhingan is perhaps the first big product to emerge out of the Indian Super League (ISL) ecosystem. Over the 10 years, he has seen impeccable success at the international level, winning the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in 2023, emerging victorious in the Intercontinental Cup twice (2018, 2023), and also the Tri-Nation series on two occasions (2017, 2023).

Raised in Chandigarh, Jhingan debuted for the senior national team in 2015, on the back of his impressive outings in the league. From being at the forefront of the famous ‘Viking Clap’ of the Blue Tigers to being the leader at the back, everyone looks up to him in a moment of difficulty.