While the last meeting between India and Hong Kong-China was a resounding win for the former, things have changed since then.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn football, you can never rest on the laurels of the past. I remember we played them (in 2022) and we won 4-0, but that\u2019s a thing of the past now,\u201d said Jhingan, about the much-changed Hong Kong side now.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe know how good a side they are, and how important this game is, and that\u2019s that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Indian senior men\u2019s team, ahead of Matchday 2 of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, held their first training session in Hong Kong on Friday evening at the Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Blue Tigers will train at the Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground on Saturday and Sunday, followed by an official training session at the newly constructed Kai Tak Stadium on matchday minus one (Monday). The Asian Cup qualifier on June 10 will be the first competitive football match at the 50,000-capacity venue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Still looking to recapture their form, the Blue Tigers have kept their heads up and are focusing on what needs to be done to turn their fortunes around, after a 0-2 loss against Thailand in a preparatory international friendly last week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sandesh Jhingan, who had captained the side against Thailand on June 4, is focused on getting the best result against Hong Kong.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen we arrived (in Hong Kong) just after the Thailand game, the focus for the team was on recovery. However, the main focus since we assembled for the camp in Kolkata (on May 18), has always been to get the maximum points against Hong Kong,\u201d said Jhingan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about preparing ourselves in the training sessions leading up to the game, so we can arrive at the match in the best way possible, both physically and mentally, and try to get maximum points,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While the loss against Thailand was a bitter pill to swallow for the Blue Tigers, it did afford them insight into the areas that need to be improved upon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe need to be more decisive and clinical inside the boxes at both ends. First and foremost, we need to be more solid at the back. If the defence is good, we will have more chances going forward. And the other part, of course, is that we need to be more clinical in attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While the loss against Thailand was a bitter pill to swallow for the Blue Tigers, it did afford them insight into the areas that need to be improved upon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n