Indian Football Captain Sunil Chhetri To Hang Up His Boots After World Cup Qualifier Against Kuwait
Bringing the curtains down on an illustrious career that spanned over two decades, Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri announced his decision to retire from the game on Thursday. Chhetri stated that India's FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 would be his last. India is currently second in Group A with four points, trailing behind leaders Qatar.
Not an easy decision:?Chhetri
"The match against Kuwait is the last," the 39-year-old Chhetri said while announcing his decision to retire.?In a video posted on social media, Chhetri said it was not an easy decision for him.
"I told my mom, my dad, and my wife, my family first. My dad,?he?was normal, he was relieved, happy,?everything, but my mom and my wife started crying. I told them, you always used to bug me that there are too many games, there is too much pressure when you watch me, and now that I'm telling you that, you know, I'm not going to play for my country anymore after this game. And even they couldn't express to me as to why they burst into tears. It's not that I was feeling tired, it's not that I was feeling this or that when the instinct came that this should be my last game, then I thought about it a lot," Chhetri said.
Also read:?Sunil Chhetri - A Diamond In Indian Football Who Is Second To None
Chhetri's international career? ?
Chhetri, who was born in Secunderabad, which was then a part of undivided Andhra Pradesh, began his career with City Club Delhi in 2001 before moving to Mohun Bagan the following year.
Chhetri made his international debut in the Under-20 team in 2004 and received a senior squad call-up in 2005.?The 39-year-old, who represented India in 150 international matches, has also scored 94 goals in his career.
Also read:?Sunil Chhetri Wants To Keep Scoring For India Till His Last Game
First footballer to get?Khel Ratna
Chhetri received the Arjuna Award in 2011 and the Padma Shri in 2019. In 2021, he became the first footballer to receive the Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor.
He will leave the scene as India's all-time top scorer and most-capped player. He is also third on the list of goal scorers among active players, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
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