Injuries to second and third goalkeepers could lead to Bengaluru FC not releasing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu for next month’s Asian Games. It is learned from both the club and the All India Football Federation. 

Sandhu, 31, is one of the three over-24 players whose names were added to ensure, according to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, that India have “its strongest representation” at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan are the other players in the 22-member list for the Asian Games who are over 24 years old.

India play the hosts on 19th September, Bangladesh on 21st September and Myanmar on 24th September. The top two from each of the six groups and four best third teams will qualify for the round of 16.

Bengaluru FC goalkeepers Amrit Gope and Vikram Lakhbir Singh are injured and unlikely to be available in September, said an official at the club. Lara Sharma, another keeper, has been loaned to Kerala Blasters. 

The 10th season of the Indian Super League (ISL) could start in the third week of September, said an official at Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which runs the league, on Tuesday. AIFF has written to FSDL requesting it to ensure all top players are available when the league starts, said the federation official mentioned above.