New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) The year was 1974, the venue was Bangkok, Thailand, a robust junior Indian team sprung a surprise on the rest of Asia when they emerged joint champions of the AFC Youth Championship after a 2-2 draw with Iran in the summit clash.
Almost half a century on, yet another junior Indian team, the U-17 Men’s National side, have set foot at the same venue, as they prepare for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup. The one link that bridges the two sides is former India winger Harjinder Singh.
Singh, who was one of the star forwards of the junior Indian side in the AFC Youth Championship, is also the head of scouting in the AIFF, and has played an integral role in spotting many of the boys who will represent India in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Thailand.