India U23 team all set for Tajikistan test

New Delhi: The India U23 men's team has reached Tajikistan to play two friendly matches against the hosts and the Kyrgyz Republic. The Blue Colts will first take on Tajikistan on Wednesday at the Hisor Central Stadium.

Led by head coach Naushad Moosa, the India U23 team, which also included Assam player Parthib Sundar Gogoi, had been camping in Kolkata since June 1 before travelling to the Central Asian nation. After landing in the capital Dushanbe on Monday evening, Moosa's 23-member squad had a mobility session on Tuesday morning and will hold a 90-minute training session in the evening. On June 21, India will meet the Kyrgyz Republic in the second game.

"The boys are very eager for tomorrow. I've been talking to them about how important these games will be for us," said Moosa, for whom it's his second tour with the U23 team, after coaching them in two friendlies against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur last year.

For the Blue Colts, these matches in Tajikistan are part of their preparations for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers that will be held in September. India will face Bahrain, Qatar, and Brunei Darussalam as they aim to qualify for the U23 Continental event for the first time.

Despite Dushanbe being located 700 metres above sea level, the weather is hot at this time of the year, soaring to almost 40 degrees during the day. What the Blue Colts mainly have to adjust to is the artificial turf surface of the Hisor Central Stadium, located 25 kilometres from the city of Dushanbe. Moosa hoped for a good turnout at the 20,000-capacity venue. (IANS)

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