Sunil Chhetri - players.bio

'National Team Not About...": Manolo Marquez's Big Take On Sunil Chhetris Retirement Return

The Indian senior men's team will face Maldives in a FIFA International Friendly on Wednesday, March 19 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The game will also be India's all-time top scorer Sunil Chhetri's first match since announcing his return to international football. Head coach Manolo Marquez also confirmed Sunil Chhetri's involvement in the friendly match that will mark his 152nd cap for India and backed his decision to return from retirement by stating his team needs to win games, not develop players. "For sure, Sunil will play some minutes. I don't know whether as a starter or from the bench. We can use six substitutions, so 17 players can play, and I think Sunil will be one of them.

"We Need To Win...": Indian Football Star Sets Expectations Straight Ahead Of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

The Indian senior men's team have had two training sessions in Shillong and are getting into the groove for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh (March 25) and the preparatory friendly against Maldives (March 19). Defender Rahul Bheke is adamant that anything less than a victory in the two games will be a failure for the side. Bheke, who has faced Maldives once and Bangladesh twice before (all in 2021), felt that the three teams have undergone a lot of changes in the last four years.

With Sunil Chhetri Returning From Retirement, India Aim To Beat Maldives, Bangladesh With Clean Sheets

It is easier said than done but senior defender Sandesh Jhingan on Saturday said that the Indian football team's target is to beat Maldives and Bangladesh without conceding any goal in the upcoming international matches in Shillong. India host Maldives in an international friendly on March 19, before taking on a tricky Bangladesh on March 25 in their opening match of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying third round match. Both the matches will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here as the Meghalaya capital is hosting its first international games. The match against Maldives will also mark the return of talismanic Sunil Chhetri from international retirement.

Al-Hilal return to winning ways, Al-Nassr stumble

RIYADH: Al-Hilal defeated Al-Fayha 2-0 on Friday to cut Al-Ittihad’s lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League to just four points while, despite another Cristiano Ronaldo special, Al-Nassr were held to a 2-2 draw by Al-Shabab in the Riyadh derby.

Saudi taekwondo champion Dunya Abu-Talib wins IOC Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award for Asia

RIYADH: Taekwondo national team athlete Dunya Abu Talib has become the first Saudi sportsperson to win the International Olympic Committee’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award for Asia. Abu Talib, the first Saudi woman to qualify for the Olympic Games and win an Asian gold medal, was given the 2024 award in recognition of her inspiring contribution to empowering female athletes both locally and internationally, the IOC said in a statement on Friday. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee president, expressed his pride in the achievement, saying: “I congratulate Abu Talib on this well-deserved award, which reflects the significant progress in women’s sports in the Kingdom, thanks to the unlimited support of our wise leadership.” The recognition shows that Saudi women are now playing a key role in global sports and serves as a motivation for the next generation of female athletes to achieve even greater success, he said. Abu Talib ranked first globally in the International Taekwondo Federation’s general classification for the under-53 kg weight category for March 2025. SOPC continues its commitment to supporting male and female athletes in the Kingdom by providing a comprehensive sports environment that enables them to achieve global success and raise the Saudi flag at the world’s leading sporting events.

Brighton boss Hurzeler targets ‘new peaks’ in Premier League

Brighton’s extra-time FA Cup victory at Newcastle last weekend was a fifth straight win in all competitionsHurzeler has enjoyed an impressive first campaign at the club, who host Fulham on SaturdayLONDON: Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has urged his side to “climb new peaks” as they seek to move into the Premier League’s top six.The soaring Seagulls have been on an impressive run since being hammered 7-0 at Nottingham Forest on Feb. 1.Brighton’s extra-time FA Cup victory at Newcastle last weekend was a fifth straight win in all competitions for the south coast side.Hurzeler — at 32 the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history — has enjoyed an impressive first campaign at the club, who host Fulham on Saturday.Marco Silva’s Fulham are ninth in the table, one place below Brighton as the race for European places hots up.Hurzeler, two years younger than Brighton forward Danny Welbeck, has challenged his team to aim high.The club’s best-ever Premier League finish was sixth, in the 2022/23 season, earning qualification for the Europa League.“It is very important we focus on our journey and that we really believe in it,” Hurzeler said on Friday.“Yesterday, I received a picture from a mountain.

Sunil Chhetri, Who Announced Retirement Last Year, Back In National Team

Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri has decided to come out of his international retirement to help the national team in the FIFA friendly assignment scheduled this month, the sport's apex body in the country said on Thursday. Chhetri returns to the team, which he led for more than a decade, aged 40. "Sunil Chhetri is back. The captain, leader, legend will return to the Indian national team for the FIFA International Window in March," the All India Football Federation (AIFF) wrote on its official 'X' handle.

Bengaluru FC Seal ISL Playoffs Spot With 1-0 Win vs Chennaiyin FC

Bengaluru FC secured qualification to the play-offs and ended Chennaiyin FC's race for the top six after a 1-0 win in their Indian Super League match here on Tuesday. Chennaiyin FC, who now have 24 points from 22 games, will not make the playoffs, whereas the Blues see themselves at the third spot courtesy 37 points as a result of this triumph. The Gerard Zaragoza-coached side held 57.1 per cent of the possession and were constantly in the hunt for goals, though their only strike of the night came through Rahul Bheke's emphatic finish inside the box in the first half.

Contacts

Sunil Chhetri Sport News

'National Team Not About...": Manolo Marquez's Big Take On Sunil Chhetris Retirement Return

"We Need To Win...": Indian Football Star Sets Expectations Straight Ahead Of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

With Sunil Chhetri Returning From Retirement, India Aim To Beat Maldives, Bangladesh With Clean Sheets

Al-Hilal return to winning ways, Al-Nassr stumble

Saudi taekwondo champion Dunya Abu-Talib wins IOC Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award for Asia

Brighton boss Hurzeler targets ‘new peaks’ in Premier League

Sunil Chhetri, Who Announced Retirement Last Year, Back In National Team

Bengaluru FC Seal ISL Playoffs Spot With 1-0 Win vs Chennaiyin FC