Fit-again Jhingan called up for 18-day national football camp

New Delhi, February 27

Defender Sandesh Jhingan and striker Jeje Lalpekhlua today returned to the fold for the 18-day national football camp ahead of India’s FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Bhubaneswar.

India’s World Cup qualifier against Qatar will be played on March 26. Jhingan had been sidelined because of a knee injury which he sustained six months ago, while Jeje is returning from a knee injury he suffered in June last year.

Lalengmawia, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Jeakson Singh, Liston Colaco, Pratik Chowdhary, Shubham Sarangi, Rafique Ali Sardar, Prabhsukhan Gill, Sumit Rathi, Seriton Fernandes, Edwin Sydney Vanspaul are among the ones who have been handed their first call-up to the senior team.

A total of 23 players have been called up in the first phase of the training camp in Bhubaneswar on March 9 before 20 other players, from four ISL semifinalist teams join on March 16.

“Time is very crucial for us. We have planned to utilise the maximum time possible, so we want to see as many players as possible before the Qatar match,” India’s head coach Igor Stimac said. — PTI