The India U19 team will compete in the SAFF U-19 Championship set to be hosted in Kathmandu, Nepal. The tournament will be played from September 21-30, 2023. The Blue Colts are drawn alongside Bhutan and Bangladesh in Group B, while hosts Nepal, Maldives and Pakistan are in Group A. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. All games will be held at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu. India emerged champions in SAFF U20 held in 2022 defeating Bangladesh 5-2 in the final in Bhubaneswar.
India squad for SAFF U-19 Championship
Goalkeepers: Lionel Daryl Rymmei, Divyaj Dhaval Thakkar and Manjot Singh Parmar.
Defenders: Thomas Kanamoottil Cherian, Jahangir Ahmad Shagoo, Vijay Marandi, Siba Prasad, Manabir Basumatary, Surajkumar Singh Ngangbam and Ricky Meetei.
Midfielders: Manglentheng Kipgen, Ishaan Shishodia, Arjun Singh Oinam, Yash Chikro, Ebindas Yesudasan, Raja Harijan and Thumsol Tongsin.
Forwards: Gwgwmsar Goyary, Sahil Khurshid, Linky Meitei Chabungbam, Kelvin Singh Taorem, Naoba Meitei and Dinesh Singh Soubam.
Head coach: Shuvendu Panda
The team left for an exposure trip in Saudi Arabia for training on September 8, 2023 and will travel to Kathmandu on September 19.
Group B
India
Bhutan
Bangladesh
Fixtures
Thursday, 21 September 2023
Bangladesh vs India (13:30)
Saturday, 23 September 2023
Bhutan vs Bangladesh (17:30)
Monday, 25 September 2023
India vs Bhutan (17:30)
Semi-finals
Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Winners Group A vs Runners-up Group B (13:30)
Winners Group B vs Runners-up Group A (17:30)
Final
Saturday, 30 September 2023
Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
India will begin the SAFF U-19 Championship against Bangladesh on 21 September 2023 whom they defeated in the final in 2022 to win the title. The last group game will be against Bhutan before the team potentially makes their place in the semi-finals. The final will be played on 30th September 2023.
