U-17 World Cup India team ready face any side: Chhetri

Mumbai July 7 (IANS) Praising the spirit and attitude of the Indian colts senior national team skipper Sunil Chhetri on Friday expressed confidence that the Indian colts will give their best in the Under-17 FIFA World Cup.

India have been clubbed with Colombia thed United States and Ghana in Group A of the 24-team tournament starting on October 6.

Speaking after the draw Chhetri said: "It s the best tournament in the world in this age group. I am really excited. The boys are well prepared. I was talking to one of them and I asked which teams do you want? And he told me that it doesn t matter. We are just gonna go there and give our best."

"And I was really impressed. There are two things. As a team we will give whatever we have and as hosts we will try to be the best the world has ever seen " India s all-time leading goalscorer added.

Chhetri was one of the four sportspersons doing the draw besides Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso Nigerian forward Nwankwo Kanu and the country s top-ranked badminton player P.V. Sindhu.

Sindhu said the experience for the boys would be one to remember and results won t matter.

"Of course India being the hosts I would like to wish them all the very best and I think it s just that you need to believe in yourself and give your best no matter what " she said.

"If you win...of course there are good teams there...but I think if we do well it s ok but if we don t if we lose never mind it s just the experience. You will have to learn a lot more."

"This is only the starting for them and there is a long way to go. So I think being the hosts there will always be pressure. I would like to wish India all the best and other teams as well " she added.

India coached by Portuguese Luis Norton de Matos will play their first game against the US on October 6 in New Delhi.

--IANS
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