Sunil Chhetri Applauds Enthusiastic Fans, Urges More Support For India’s Next Match
After scoring a crucial late winner for India on Monday night, skipper Chhetri reflected on his relationship with Odisha and urged more fans to come to the stadium to support the Blue Tigers when they face off on June 15 Lebanon.
Bhubaneswar: After team India’s 1-0 win against Vanuatu in the Intercontinental Cup, captain Sunil Chhetri expressed his joy and appreciation at the sea of fans who came to Kalinga Stadium.
After scoring a crucial late winner for India on Monday night, skipper Chhetri reflected on his relationship with Odisha and urged more fans to come to the stadium to support the Blue Tigers when they face off on June 15 Lebanon.
During India’s clash with Vanuatu, a large number of fans gathered at the iconic Kalinga Stadium to cheer on the host nation.
Speaking of the fan turnout, skipper Chhetri said: “I will now give in to my greed. The numbers are excellent, but I would like to see more people in the stadium.”
He further added, “I’m asking because the nation is playing and the guys are giving it their all. Please come if you have time, because the competitions are fun and we do our best to make our country proud.
Sai Shivdutt, a 24-year-old fan from Bhubaneswar, supported the captain and national team, saying, “I have been to this incredible stadium twice; the first time was during the FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup, and it looks even better and more exciting this time around. It is an honor to see the national team compete here in Bhubaneswar, and the mood is very encouraging as the national team has crept closer to the final.”
Supporting and praising the turnout among fans of the game in Odisha, Joint Secretary, Sports & Youth Services Department, Ranjit Parida, who presented the Player of the Match award to Captain Sunil Chhetri, said that international tournaments are often held here, but this is a matter of great pride as Odisha is a strong supporter of Indian football.
“Odisha fans cheer loudest when the captain or any other national athlete scores. The Indian team is enabling football to reach a wider audience than ever before, and we are delighted that it has become a huge success,” said Parida.
Although the passion of the Odisha crowd is huge, it is not surprising as Indian football is so highly acclaimed in this country and the people of Odisha love sports.
“When we hosted the men’s FIH Hockey World Cup in the past, our national team also attracted a lot of fans. We will continue to strive to ensure that our community can watch and enjoy the best sports competitions,” he added.
The 2023 Intercontinental Cup, featuring India, Lebanon, Vanuatu and Mongolia, exemplifies the state of Odisha’s growing sports culture, as well as the energetic environment that surrounds it. Without any doubt, the state’s warm hospitality and world-class facilities will further cement its position as India’s sports hub.
Meanwhile, the tournament returns to action as Mongolia play Vanuatu and Lebanon take on hosts India on Thursday before the much-anticipated final is played on June 18.