Chopra: I still want to play for India!

English Championship side Cardiff City FC striker Michael Chopra still has ambitions to play for Team India even after not being given a fast track Indian passport to represent the country at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

Michael Chopra told Welsh media, "I'm still following my football dream at Cardiff and hope to step up to the international stage by representing India."

So one as Indian football fan one can still hope to see Chops in an India shirt in the future, but the All India Football Federation will need to take a more pro-active approach on the issue and get Chopra an Indian passport as a change of guards is likely in the coming month's in Team India.

Meanwhile Chopra has also been nominated for the British Asian Sports Awards. The 10th annual British Asian Sports Awards are split into eight categories, from junior sports personality for the under-15s to the main sports personality of the year. The handing over ceremony will be held on March 5 at The Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane in London.

The BASAs panel of expert judges, who include former England cricketer Mark Ramprakash, Olympic Gold medallist Denise Lewis and the BBC's Football League Show presenter Manish Bhasin shortlisted Chopra from over 100 nominations.