2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Savio names his final 23 players

Indian national coach Savio Medeira has named his final 23 players for the upcoming 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, which will be held in Nepal from March 8 to 19. India are together in a tough Group along with former champions North Korea and Tajikistan plus the Philippines

Savio Medeira has held a preparatory camp in Dubai from February 15 where he had called 30 players and played two friendly international matches. India lost both against Oman (1-5) and Azerbaijan (0-3) with Savio unable to send his best team out onto the pitch due to niggles of Sunil Chhetri, Nirmal Chetri and Lalrindika Ralte, who have recovered in time for the AFC Challenge Cup.

Missing the tournament due to injuries will be Arnab Mondal, Clifford Miranda and Baldeep Singh; while Savio has decided to leave out Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Lester Mark Fernandez, Manish Mathani and Manandeep Singh.


INDIA

Goalkeepers
Arindam Bhattacharya (Churchill Brothers SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC),

Defenders
Anwar (Mohun Bagan AC), Nirmal Chetri (East Bengal Club), Kingshuk Debnath (Mohun Bagan AC), Raju Eknath Gaikwad (East Bengal Club), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Sameer Subash Naik (Dempo SC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Churchill Brothers SC), Gurjinder Singh (Pune FC)

Midfielders
Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Adil Ahmed Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC), Reisangmi Vashum (East Bengal Club)

Forwards
Joaquim Santan Abranches (Dempo SC), Sunil Chhetri (Mohun Bagan AC), C.S. Sabeeth (Pailan Arrows), Sushil Kumar Singh (Shillong Lajong FC)