National Sports Day special: Where India stands in the world of sports

Football

The Good

The heartwarming rags-to-riches story of the Yuwa girls captured the country’s attention and brought to light the latent talent in India.

Indian teenage sensation Brandon Fernandes is set to make a mark in world football.

The Bad

Despite the wide football fan-base in the country, the AIFF, the governing body for football in India, has struggled in marketing the game fully and migrating the millions of EPL fans that the country boasts of, to the I-League.

Lack of international friendlies has hurt the national team in the recent past, with six international friendly defeats in a row – three of them coming under the tutelage of coach Wim Koevermans. The most recent defeat, against Tajikistan, brings to light the issues plaguing the AIFF.

India had not played an international game for five months prior to the game against Tajikistan – a disturbing statistic, and one that needs to be addressed.

What’s happening right now in Indian football

The 2013 SAFF Championship, a tournament that India have won a record six times, is set to showcase the national team in action in Nepal. Hopes are high that India will bring home the cup for a seventh time, with preparations in full swing in Bangalore.