Khalid Jamil lone Indian among three candidates shortlisted by AIFF for India men's football head coach's role
Not just Jamil, former India head coach Stephen Constantine is also among the shortlisted candidates. Former Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan head coach Stefan Tarkovic is the other candidate shortlisted.
'The All India Football Federation's Technical Committee (TC) met virtually on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, to shortlist the applicants for the Senior Men's Indian Football Team head coach role,' AIFF said.
'The TC carefully reviewed 170 applications received earlier this month and narrowed it down to three candidates – Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovic,' it added.
'The TC has recommended the resumes of the three shortlisted candidates to the Executive Committee, which will take the final call on who the next Blue Tigers head coach will be,' it further added.
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Hindustan Times
27 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Momentum with India, Pant absence a big loss
Question before the big Oval game: Which captain slept soundly last night and who tossed and turned in the bed? India's Rishabh Pant at the fourth test cricket match between India and England, at the Old Trafford. (PTI) After Old Trafford, Shubman Gill must have had a restful night in his St James's hotel suite while Ollie Pope, England's stand-in skipper, must have been troubled by uncomfortable thoughts. Which is not surprising considering that England must be scarred after India's great escape in the fourth Test. Failure to close a game from a dominant position is likely to haunt them. On Day 4 with five sessions to go, with two wickets down for zero, with a team 311 behind, it was certain doom for India. The same dreadful situation a tennis player faces when 2-5, 0-40 down in the fifth set. England was like the nervous golfer who misses a 12-inch putt on the 18th hole on the final day to finish second. From India's standpoint this was a dream game. Epic fourth innings resistance, a score of over 400 with three batters making hundreds, two of those from bowling allrounders. It is said winning is a habit and good teams have a way of winning, finding a way even from hopeless situations. India just tweaked that timeless wisdom: a good team has a way of avoiding defeat, finding a way to get out of the hole they were pushed into. Full credit to Jadeja and Sundar for their stubborn resistance but the Test was a personal triumph for captain Gill. Scoring four hundreds in an overseas series is a feat achieved only by greats – it is not fluke or good form or success as a result of ordinary bowling and friendly pitches. Gill is that rare 100-Test batter who is technically pure, correct and inventive, patient yet hungry. He is unhurried elegance, blessed with decisive foot movement and an uncluttered mind. Strong in defence but capable of shifting gears to put foot on pedal when needed. Not exactly Viv Richards but not Pujara either. Though pleased on achieving the goal he set for himself ahead of the series (of becoming the best batsman in the team) Gill knows Oval will not be an easy game. At Lord's, India's batting failed to get 193 needed to win. At Old Trafford, the bowling failed as they conceded 669, with even genius Bumrah going for over a hundred runs – the first time in his fantastic 48-Test career. Batting might not be a worry because opener Rahul has become Indian cricket's new wall, as solid as his celebrated senior from Indirapuram, Bengaluru. That Sudharsan/Sundar/Jadeja made tough runs is reassuring, but Pant's absence is a big loss. Not just for the runs he makes at five but the brutal treatment he dishes out to bowlers. Archer is scary quick but imagine his mental state, and that of England's pace bowling unit, when Pant sweeps/reverse sweeps him as if playing a friendly net bowler floating up gentle looseners. That's not disrespect – it's outrageous contempt. Going into the Oval decider, both teams have the same problem – finding bowlers who can win matches. India and Gill/Gambhir have to find bowlers who can get 20 wickets. If Bumrah's body doesn't allow him to play four Tests it's a massive loss. Siraj's body must also be sore having bowled so many overs. Hopefully, Akash Deep is fit and Arshdeep is the answer to solving the bowling issues. At Old Trafford it appeared that the captain forgot Sundar was playing, or that he could bowl, till the 69th over. It seems the tour selection committee has had a similar memory lapse about Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist spinner is a wicket-taking option – independent of pitch and conditions – because batsmen struggle to make out which way the ball is turning. Still, despite being 2/1 down, Gill is in better space than his England counterpart. Apart from the trauma of missing out at Old Trafford, Pope will worry that England bowled 143 overs in ten hours to take four wickets. Stokes was England's best bowler but a dodgy shoulder has ruled him out. England has effected a surgical strike on their bowling unit, opting for fresh legs to take on India's batting. After four Tests of compelling cricket Oval is a great opportunity for India to level the series. Momentum, the money-can't-buy quality, is with India but cricket is more uncertain than Indian elections or the English weather. Gill has 722 runs from four games, but when he walks down the steps at the Oval he would know he starts from zero.
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
India vs England, 5th Test: Live streaming, weather report, playing XI & more
India and England will face off in the 5th and final Test at The Oval from July 31. With England leading the series 2-1, India must win to level the series and save face. Ben Stokes is ruled out due to an injury and Rishabh Pant is also forced out. Check match timing, live streaming, weather updates, and playing XIs. read more There's a chance of weather delays on the first day of the 5th Test. Reuters India and England are all set to play the final match of the five-Test series at The Oval, starting on Thursday, July 31. After a thrilling draw in the Manchester Test, India have a big chance to level the series and save face. They will need a win for that. England, on the other hand, are 2-1 up and will even be happy with a draw. The biggest news is that England skipper Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the match, with Ollie Pope taking over the captaincy. Stokes suffered a shoulder injury in the Manchester Test. England have made four changes to their playing XI, with Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Liam Dawson also dropped. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is forced out of India's playing XI due to a fractured toe, which he sustained in the fourth Test. Jasprit Bumrah is also slated to miss the fifth Test as per a report in ESPNCricinfo, as he had previously said that he would play only three Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. More from First Cricket India pull out of WCL semifinal amid political tensions, Pakistan advance to final: Report Indian skipper Shubman Gill has said that Arshdeep Singh is ready and may come into the playing XI for his debut Test. Prasidh Krishna is also among the probable candidates to fill in Bumrah's shoes, as he is said to miss out. When and where to watch the India vs England 5th Test? The India vs England 5th Test match is scheduled to take place from Thursday, July 31 to Monday, August 4. The toss will take place at 3:00 PM IST on the first day. The match will begin at 3:30 PM IST and will be at the same time on all days. How to watch the live streaming of the India vs England 5th Test? The live streaming of the fifth Test between India and England will be available on the JioHotstar app and website. How to watch the live telecast of the India vs England 5th Test? The live telecast of the fifth Test between India and England will be available on Sony Sports Network TV channels. Will the rain play spoilsport in London? The weather may play a part on Day 1 in London. According to Accuweather, there is a yellow warning for thunderstorms, especially in the morning and afternoon. It's going to be cloudy in the morning with a good chance of rain, which is around 65 percent. In the afternoon, there might be more rain and even a thunderstorm. The temperature will be around 23°C. Fans should expect some delays. It is expected to be overcast conditions, which may suit the fast bowlers, especially in the morning session. The team that wins the toss will look to bowl first as strong wind is also expected. England have not picked any frontline spinner for this match, which suggests that fast bowlers are going to have an upper hand here. India vs England, 5th Test: Playing XIs England's Playing XI Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue. India's predicted playing XI Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
India dreams live on as ex-goalie finds his goal as coach
Chandigarh: Sixteen years ago, Baljit Singh's dream was shattered by a golf ball. A training accident during a national camp in 2009 left one of India's most promising hockey goalkeepers blind in his right eye. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It was a cruel blow to his career, a man once poised to represent India at the 2010 World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, and the 2012 London Olympics was suddenly left staring at a life he hadn't imagined. In a full-circle moment that speaks of resilience and passion, Baljit Singh is back, not on the field, but as the goalkeeping coach for the Indian Women's National Hockey Team. And gradually, a new dream began to take root, not of playing, but of mentoring. "The dream I couldn't live, I will realise through the players I coach," he says. Appointed in July 2025, Baljit has joined the Bangalore camp. This marks a long-overdue recognition for a man who never truly left the game, even when the game seemed to have left him. Born and brought up in Chandigarh, with roots in Hoshiarpur, Baljit's tryst with hockey began in 1995. By the late '90s, he had earned a place in the under-17 and then under-21 Indian teams, showcasing early promise with international exposure in Poland. But just as his career gained momentum, a shoulder injury in 2002 threatened to derail it. Yet, resilience was in his blood. He bounced back, and by 2006 was guarding the goalpost at the Commonwealth Games. In 2007, he played the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, earning the reputation as one of India's best goalkeepers. His game in the Premier Hockey League for the Maratha Warriors had already marked him as one to watch. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Then came that ill-fated day in 2009. Under coach Romeo James, Baljit was undergoing specialized reflex training using a golf ball, a technique meant to sharpen reactions. One shot, and everything changed. The ball struck his right eye with brutal force, blinding him permanently. Even treatment in the USA couldn't restore his vision 100%. With his playing days abruptly cut short, Baljit was left to pick up the pieces. His job with Indian Oil, secured in 2001, became his anchor. Still, the void of being away from the game gnawed at him. "In 2017-18, I stopped playing entirely. It felt like something was weighing down on me," he recalls. The support of his family, close friends, and his coach Jaswinder Singh Bajwa held him through the darkest times. And in a moment of inspiration, cricket legend Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who himself played with impaired vision in one eye, told him, "If I could do it, so can you." That moment stayed with Baljit. He began practicing again. Playing domestic matches restored his belief. Hockey India, recognising his contribution, instituted the Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year, awarding ₹5,00,000 annually. But more importantly, it was this recent appointment to the Indian Women's National Team that truly honoured his journey. "Staying close to hockey is like breathing for me. It's something I live and feel every single day," he says. As a coach, his mission is clear, to mould the next generation of world-class Indian goalkeepers. "We are preparing Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharibam as possible replacements for Savita. But we need to build a deeper pool of talent," he says. "Out of 24 girls selected nationally, three are goalkeepers. We must cultivate more." For Baljit, coaching isn't just about skills. It's about building presence of mind, reflexes, and above all, leadership. As the team eyes the Asia Cup in September and the 2025 FIH Women's Junior World Cup, his focus is steady. Compared to his playing days, Baljit says the landscape has changed, improved budgets, foreign coaches, physiotherapists, and world-class infrastructure. But with competition from Asian teams like China and Japan, there's no room for complacency. "The role of a coach is to fix the nittygritties, the gaps a player might not see. As a player, your job ends after the match. But as a coach, the work never stops. You have to lift morale, shape character, and prepare for every eventuality." For Baljit Singh, this appointment isn't a job. It's redemption. It's the universe returning to him what it once took away. Not in the form of personal glory, but in the faces of the young women he now trains. Baljit's story reminds us of something greater, that while fate may alter the course of a dream, it can never kill it. Not when that dream is as vital as breath itself.
