Letters to The EDITOR: Strengthening Indian Football
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to draw the attention of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and all authorities concerned to the performance of the Indian men's football team in the international friendly match against Brazil, held on October 3, 2026, at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata. I watched the match live from the opening whistle at 7.30 pm.
The Indian players displayed determination and fought hard throughout the game. However, they struggled with basic aspects of the game, including accurate passing, ball control, coordination, and finishing.
As a result, India suffered a disappointing 0-4 defeat against one of the world's strongest footballing nations. Winning and losing are integral parts of sports, and there is no shame in losing to a football powerhouse like Brazil, a five-time FIFA World Cup champion and one of the world's highest-ranked teams.
India, currently ranked much lower in international football, still has a long journey ahead to compete consistently with elite football nations. India has a population of over 1.4 billion people, offering an enormous talent pool.
With systematic talent identification, scientific training, modern coaching methods, and transparent player selection based solely on merit, India has the potential to become a much stronger footballing nation. Young footballers across the country should be given equal opportunities to develop through robust grassroots programmes and professional academies.
I also believe that the AIFF should continue to engage highly qualified coaches with proven international experience and invest in long-term player development rather than seeking only short-term results. Improving fitness, tactical awareness, technical skills, and youth development should be the priority if India is to compete successfully at the highest level.
Football lovers across the country dream of seeing India emerge as a respected force in world football. I sincerely hope that the AIFF, the Sports Authority of India, and all stakeholders will take the necessary steps to strengthen the sport and build a brighter future for Indian football.
Khagen Lal Das Kainadhara, Guwahati Battling AI fake content Through the columns of your respected newspaper, I would like to draw attention to the growing problem of AI-generated fake content. Artificial Intelligence has made it very easy to create realistic-looking photos, videos, audio clips, and news-like content.
While AI is useful in many fields, its misuse is becoming a serious concern. Fake images and videos can be created and shared within a few minutes, making it difficult for ordinary people to know what is real and what is fake.