Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri to retire after World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait on June 6
The Hindu
Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri announces retirement after FIFA World Cup qualifier, ending a two-decade career as top scorer.
Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri on Thursday announced his decision to retire from international football after the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6, bringing the curtains down on a glorious two-decade career.
The long-serving national team captain announced his decision via a video he posted on his social media accounts.
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India are currently second in Group A with four points, behind leaders Qatar.
"The match Against Kuwait is the Last," the 39-year-old Chhetri said while announcing his decision to retire.
Chhetri had made his 150th appearance for India in March and scored on the occasion against Afghanistan in Guwahati. India, though, lost that game 1-2.
Chhetri, who made his debut in 2005, has scored 94 goals for the country. He will leave the scene as India's all-time top scorer and most-capped player. He is also third in the list of goal scorers among active players behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.