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Teen Goalkeeper Fuels India's AFC Asian Cup Dream
4 Dec
Summary
- 16-year-old Rajrup Sarkar key to India U-17's AFC Asian Cup 2026 qualification.
- India secured qualification by defeating Iran 2-1 in Ahmedabad.
- Sarkar is a product of Hindustan Zinc's Zinc Football Academy.
In a significant achievement for Indian youth football, 16-year-old goalkeeper Rajrup Sarkar played a pivotal role in the India U-17 national team's qualification for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026. The team secured their spot with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Iran in Ahmedabad, marking a triumphant end to their resilient campaign.
Sarkar's composure and exceptional shot-stopping ability were vital throughout the qualifiers, particularly in high-pressure matches against Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, and Chinese Taipei. A talented product of Hindustan Zinc's Zinc Football Academy, he joined the Zawar-based residential program as a young teenager. Under their specialized coaching and training model, he developed into one of the nation's most promising young goalkeepers.
Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company, has a long-standing commitment to sports development, nurturing talent across various disciplines. The Zinc Football Academy, established in 2018, has consistently contributed to India's age-group teams, with Rajrup Sarkar being the latest success story. This achievement underscores the academy's vision of empowering communities and developing future national athletes.
