M umbai City head to Dubai for pre-season training camp
India will also be hoping for a medal from the men’s doubles pair of Rankireddy and Shety, who is ranked eighth in the world
He reached the quarterfinals in the German Open and semis at the Swiss Open and Korea Open besides playing a crucial role in India’s maiden triumph in Thomas Cup in May.
If Srikanth, Lakshya, Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shety play to their potential, India should retain the Mixed Team title they won in Gold Coast.
India will also be hoping for a medal from the men’s doubles pair of Rankireddy and Shety, who is ranked eighth in the World. The silver medallist from Gold Coast 2018, who won the India Open in January this year and reached the quarterfinals at the All England, the Korea Open and Badminton Asia Championships this season.
The world No. 8 pair had some superb outings in the Thomas Cup, contributing to India’s sensational win over Indonesia in the final by beating a strong combination in Mohammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo.
They were troubled by an injury to Chirag Shety but seem to have recovered. India’s top men’s doubles pair has made the most of the special foreign coach arranged by the government for them and has improved a lot in recent years.
Besides these tested and proven campaigners, one should also look out for young women singles player Aakarshi Kashyap and the rookie women’s doubles combination of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who will be making their CWG debut. In 2018, Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy had won bronze in women’s doubles. This time around she will be participating in the mixed doubles with B Sumeeth Reddy.
Mumbai: As part of the team’s preparations for the 2022-23 season, Indian Super League (ISL) side Mumbai City FC’S squad along with the staff will travel to Dubai to take part in a pre-season training camp.
Mumbai City FC players will set up base in Jebel Ali, Dubai in a 19-day training camp starting from July 25 until Aug.12.
Des Buckingham’s Mumbai City ended the 2021-22 season creating history at the 2022 AFC Champions League, becoming the first Indian club to win a game in Asia’s premier club competition. Building on, the Islanders are eager to kick-start their pre-season training to prepare for what will be the longest season in recent times in the Indian footballing calendar.
The preparations will focus on geting the team ready for the 131st Durand Cup, set to begin on Aug.16, which will mark the start of the new domestic football season in India. Drawn in Group B, Mumbai City FC will square off against ATK Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Indian Navy and Rajasthan United in what will be the Islanders’ maiden appearance in Asia’s oldest football competition.
“I am extremely proud and happy with how we started and finished last season, especially in the AFC Champions League. To finish second in the group stage and showcase our atacking style of play was enjoyable to all associated with the club and showed that Indian football can compete and win at the highest level of club football in Asia,” said Des Buckingham, head coach, Mumbai City FC.
“”As we enter the new season we will look to continue the momentum from this historic campaign as we start our pre-season in Dubai. We have a very young squad here at Mumbai City -- the average age of our domestic contingent is just 23 and have added some further quality and experience in the off season. We want to give our squad a plaform and an environment that is conducive to their growth and development to prepare the whole team as well as possible for what will be an exciting season starting with the Durand Cup in August,” he added.
“Our vision for the upcoming season is clear - we want to build a team that can compete and compete well. With the expertise we have at our disposal, I believe we have put together a squad that can do just that. Des and his staff are determined to bring the best out of this incredibly talented playing group and take the club to newer heights.
There is a desire to build on from last season and our pre-season camp in Dubai will lay the foundations of what we hope will be a successful season for Mumbai City, starting with the Durand Cup later in August,” said Kandarp Chandra, CEO, Mumbai City FC.
Meanwhile, Indian Super League (ISL) side Chennaiyin FC on Saturday unveiled their new kits -- designed by fans, ahead of the 2022-23 season, here.
In a first for an Indian Super League club, all three kits -- home, away and third -- have been designed by fans, following a contest conducted earlier this year.