Blue Tigers return to Hong Kong after 16 years, seek redemption
By : Sandhya
KOWLOON, HONG KONG: On Thursday, the Indian senior men's team arrived in Hong Kong again after 16 years. While in 2009, it was a friendly game against the hosts, on June 10, 2025, the two sides will clash in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier.
For Manolo Márquez and his coaching staff, the first order of business after touching down in Hong Kong from Bangkok at 6 pm local time, were heading straight to the Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po, where the hosts were taking on Nepal in a preparatory friendly just two hours later. The game ended scoreless.
India, who lost 0-2 to Thailand in their friendly on Wednesday, will have their first training session in Hong Kong on Friday evening at the Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O.
Unsurprisingly, Sunil Chhetri is the only member of the squad who has played for the Blue Tigers in Hong Kong before. Assistant coach Mahesh Gawali, who provided an assist in India's 1-2 loss in that friendly in 2009, shared his memories of the game played after India secured a historic qualification for the AFC Asian Cup 2011, having won the AFC Challenge Cup 2008.
Hong Kong took the lead in the 70th minute before Bhaichung Bhutia equalised in the 80th, but the hosts ultimately nicked the win with an injury-time winner.