‘Bindra’s gold inspired us’

India forward Chhetri says that the team had the belief they would win the AFC Cup

MUMBAI: Impossible is nothing. Ace shooter Abhinav Bindra’s historic gold medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has already started inspiring people’s lives.

It is the Indian football team which was inspired by Bindra and qualified for the AFC Asian Cup after a 24-year gap, thrashing defending champions Tajikistan 4-1 in the AFC Challenge Cup final played at the Dr Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday night.

India last played in the Asian Cup in 1984 under Yugoslav coach Ciric Milovan with players of the calibre of Shabbir Ali, Subrata Bhattacharya, Krishanu Dey and Prasanta Banerjee in the team. Before that they were runners up in 1964 in Israel where the hosts defeated India in the final.

Before the match India forward Sunil Chhetri had said that it would be the most important ninety minutes of his life and he played exactly like that and scored a hat-trick in India’s triumph.

Talking to DNA on Thursday, Chhetri said Bindra provided the inspiration for the team. “Abhinav did a great job in Beijing. He made every Indian proud. His performance in China inspired our team and we created history by qualifying for the elite level which very few had thought possible, but we believed in ourselves like Bindra did,” Chhetri said.

Chhetri said he will not forget the day in his life. “It is the happiest day of my life. We worked hard and played really well to beat the defending champions,” he said.

The 24-year-old, who played for JCT in the I League last season, feels this victory will change the face of Indian football. “Certainly it will bring changes in Indian football because it is the first time in 24 years that we have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup. I think with this more sponsors will come in and more and more people will start following Indian football. This is the much needed boost to the Indian football,” he added.

However, the youngster complained that the country’s football is not followed keenly. “Results or no results people should follow because we play for the country. I am not saying only for football but all sports including cricket because we put 120 per cent on the field hence, we need honest support from the people. This will help us put up a good show ahead,” he said.

Chhetri is not thinking of Olympics or World Cup qualification. “We have to be optimistic and realistic. We can go there but we have to take one step at a time,” he added.