India U20 Aims for Continuous Improvement After SAFF U20 Victory Against Bhutan

The India U20 Men's National Team eyes consistent progress following their 1-0 win over Bhutan in the SAFF U20 Championship. With rest days before facing Maldives, the team's head coach emphasizes strategic recovery and improvements. Suspensions notwithstanding, the team remains optimistic about their upcoming match.

The India U20 Men's National Team is focusing on steady progress as they regroup after their initial victory in the SAFF U20 Championship 2024 against Bhutan. Edging out their Himalayan neighbors 1-0, India's provisional top spot in Group B comes with three crucial points.

With a three-day breather before their next match against Maldives on August 23, the Blue Colts managed to fit some rest and recovery into their demanding schedule, the AIFF stated in a media release. Head coach Ranjan Chaudhuri remarked, 'We are playing on artificial turfs, which can be taxing, so we decided to have a recovery session today (Tuesday). Initially, we planned a pool session, but due to rain and cooler weather in Nepal, we opted for light stretching. We'll hold two productive training sessions before facing Maldives.'

With three points in hand, India U20 is keenly monitoring the upcoming Group B clash between Bhutan and Maldives on Wednesday. Should Maldives win, the Blue Colts would advance to the semi-finals. 'I'll definitely watch that match. Much hinges on its outcome. We're also reviewing our performance to correct our mistakes,' Chaudhuri noted.

Despite commendations for maintaining a 1-0 lead against Bhutan with nine men, Chaudhuri emphasized the need for improvement in forward play. 'The boys showed great resilience after losing two players to red cards. Maintaining formation with nine players is challenging, but they held their ground and even breached Bhutan's defense a few times. We need to work on our finishing,' he stated.

Midfielder Manjot Singh Dhami echoed his coach's sentiments, stressing that the team must display better performance in their upcoming game. 'We must improve our combinations and communication. The more we play, the better we'll get. It's all about our attitude towards these games,' Dhami said, according to an AIFF media release.

As India gears up for their match against Maldives, they will miss the services of suspended players Pramveer and Vanlalpeka Guite, sent off against Bhutan. Head coach Chaudhuri remains unperturbed, stating, 'We'll find replacements. The boys starting from the bench are equally capable, and this is their chance to shine.'

(With inputs from agencies.)