India has officially qualified for the
The result moved India to six points from three matches, leaving the squad to wait for the outcome of the later fixture between Syria and Uzbekistan. Following Uzbekistan’s 3-0 win over Syria, India confirmed their spot as one of the seven best runners-up across the eight qualifying groups, marking their first appearance in the tournament since 2006.
A Dominant Display to Seal Qualification
The match against Bangladesh remained balanced during the opening stages, but India eventually broke the deadlock in the 25th minute. The breakthrough came through high-intensity pressing, as Danny Meitei Laishram capitalized on a defensive error forced by Hateem Ali. After receiving the ball in the penalty area, Danny maintained his composure to slot home the opening goal.
India continued to dictate the tempo for the remainder of the first half, with Danny nearly extending the lead in the 34th minute via a dangerous free-kick that required a sharp save from Bangladesh goalkeeper Raj Chowdhury. The momentum remained with the Blue Colts after the interval, as they continued to probe for a second goal to solidify their position.
Closing Out the Victory
The second goal arrived on the hour mark through an impressive piece of individual skill. Following a long throw-in flicked on by Rishikanta, Vishal Yadav produced an acrobatic finish to beat the Bangladesh defense and double India's advantage. Despite a brief period of increased aggression from their opponents, the Indian backline remained organized and disciplined.
Head coach
