Anwar Ali, the former India international defender claimed the ‘love’ from East Bengal fans has intensified his duty to perform this season.

The defender whose contract with East Bengal has finally been approved by the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Players’ Status Committee entered the stage amidst the roaring fans at Khudiram Anusilan Kendra on the occasion of late Dipak Das’s 85th birth anniversary. 

Anwar was handed his jersey (No. 4) by Deepak Mondal, the Arjuna Awardee India international from East Bengal who also used to wear the same jersey (No.4), and felicitated by the dignitaries like state sports minister Arup Biswas, tennis legend Leander Paes, former India international female cricketer from Bengal, Jhulan Goswami and the club’s top brass. 

It is learned that Anwar Ali is unlikely to participate in Red-and-Gold's opening match of the AFC Champions League Tier-2 against Turkmen side Altyn Asyr on Wednesday at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan. 

But Anwar at the same time added, "I have never received such a warm welcome and jubilation by the fans in my career so far. It will increase my responsibility. But I do not feel any mental pressure. I only know that I will have to perform to win every match and I am confident about doing that." 

Leander Paes, the bronze medalist in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, was asked about India's performance in the Paris Olympics. Paes is optimistic about the improvement of the Indian athletes since their show in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. He advised that the Indian contingent should think of roping in at least five sports psychologists with the team before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.