<p>The national men’s squad will play their first-ever international match versus Bahrain at the Khalifa Sports City Hall in Bahrain at 8:30 pm IST on August 12, 2023, which is expected to be a momentous day for Indian futsal.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-124941″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/theindiaprint.com-in-a-new-international-futsal-match-india-plays-bahrain-download-2023-08-12t151123.300-11zon.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com in a new international futsal match india plays bahrain download 2023 08 12t151123.300 11zon” width=”1240″ height=”773″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/theindiaprint.com-in-a-new-international-futsal-match-india-plays-bahrain-download-2023-08-12t151123.300-11zon.jpg 284w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/theindiaprint.com-in-a-new-international-futsal-match-india-plays-bahrain-download-2023-08-12t151123.300-11zon-150×93.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1240px) 100vw, 1240px” title=”In a new international futsal match, India plays Bahrain 3″></p>
<p>The 14-player Indian team, which was chosen based on how well they did in the Futsal Club Championship earlier this year, arrived at the Middle Eastern island country on Thursday night. India will face Bahrain in two friendly games on August 12 and 14, under the direction of head coach Joshuah Vaz.</p>
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<p>The games are a part of India’s training for their first appearance in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2024 Qualifiers, which will take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan from October 7–11. In Group E, India is grouped alongside Myanmar, Palestine, and the host nation Tajikistan.</p>
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<p>On Saturday, Vaz and his lads are eager to make history. “My first feelings are ones of eagerness and excitement to take the field and represent our wonderful country in its first-ever futsal match. I have no doubt that my coaching staff and the players are eager and well-prepared for the encounter against Bahrain tomorrow,” he said on Friday.</p>
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<p>Bahrain is an experienced team in the futsal world, having participated in the AFC Futsal Championship for the first time in 2002. Additionally, they were eligible for the 2018 and 2022 AFC Futsal Asian Cups.</p>
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<p>There will likely be some butterflies in the stomach since it is our first international game. The outcome will come as a consequence of my efforts to ensure that our lads have fun outside, Vaz said.</p>
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<p>Additionally, the 33-year-old coach had a message for Bahrain’s Indian supporters. “Thank you to all of the supporters that came to see us at Bahrain International Airport. I want to see all of you tomorrow in support of the lads in blue in large numbers,” he remarked.</p>
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