Thanks to people like Sunil Chhetri, India is currently going through a period of football renaissance. A huge amount of effort, funding, investment, and focus on infrastructure and a new and improved approach to grassroots football is helping make football even more mainstream than ever.
Let’s dive straight in to discover more about India’s new football renaissance, which aims to one day make the country a stronger footballing nation on the global stage.
How is India helping to fuel interest in football at a grassroots level?
Recently, the Indian government and various other non-governmental organisations have paid particular attention to grassroots football.
Many resources have been put into building and improving training facilities, athlete support systems, and football stadiums. As a youngster looking to get into football as a career choice from a young age, there has never been a better time than now.
Their efforts have caused a surge in interest in football in India from the grassroots level all the way up to the Indian Super League (ISL) – the top tier of men’s professional football in India, which is currently celebrating its tenth season.
Many successful initiatives have been launched by various governing sports bodies to improve the football infrastructure in India and make it more appealing to a younger audience.
The country aspires to be one of the best footballing nations on the planet, and it isn’t too much of a stretch of the imagination to believe that this could one day happen.
The footballing world across India is rapidly evolving as more private companies invest in the sport, and sponsorship deals become more lucrative than ever.
Like the IPL (the Indian Premier League) and the PKL (Pro Kabaddi League), experts predict there will be significant steps forward regarding the amount of money the ISL can generate in the future.
It all begins at the grassroots level, so seeing what happens with football in India over the next ten or twenty years will be very interesting.
Thanks to the recent work by official sports governing bodies, private firms, and non-profit/charitable organisations, football in India is now more popular than ever, and its popularity is expected to grow exponentially over the coming years.
Modern training facilities are now fully equipped with the latest footballing technological innovations, and a wide range of professional coaches, physiotherapists, sports scientists, experts on mental conditioning, and nutritionists are all helping shape the future of football in India.
Players now have access to the most advanced training grounds and methods, with cutting-edge fitness centres in revolutionary sporting environments, which all help to optimise each player’s performance from a young age all the way up to the top flight of professional football.
Their efforts have also enabled India to host some of today’s biggest sporting events, such as the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the Asian Games, and the Commonwealth Games.
Is it possible to bet on the Indian Super League?
Yes, provided you are at least 18 years old. It’s now possible to bet on over 25 major global sporting events, including the ISL, IPL, and PKL, on the official 10CRIC Sports betting website.
This world-class site is known for having thousands of the latest top Indian football bookmaker odds for homegrown and international leagues and tournaments, such as La Liga in Spain, the Premier League in England, the Bundesliga in Germany, Serie A in Italy, the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League.
Can India win the 2024 AFC Asian Cup?
Unfortunately, it’s currently not looking too good for India to win the AFC Asian Cup outright, despite the efforts in recent years to develop football from the grassroots level. For example, India and Kyrgyzstan are the third joint-favourite teams LEAST likely to win the AFC Asian Cup.
Let’s take a closer look at the decimal, fractional, and American/moneyline odds currently being offered for the top and bottom three Asian Cup teams to win the tournament outright, along with the implied probability rate for each outcome.
- India and Kyrgyzstan – both currently priced at 251.00 (decimal odds), +25,000 (American/moneyline odds), 250/1 (fractional odds) = 0.40% IPR
- Indonesia – currently priced at 351.00 (decimal odds), +35,000 (American/moneyline odds), 350/1 (fractional odds) = 0.30% IPR
- Hong Kong – currently priced at 501.00 (decimal odds), +50,000 (American/moneyline odds), 500/1 (fractional odds) = 0.20% IPR
In comparison, the three favourites that have the best chance of winning this year’s Asian Cup are the following teams:
- Japan – currently priced at 3.25 (decimal odds), +225 (American/moneyline odds), 9/4 (fractional odds) = 30.80% IPR (ODDS-ON FAVOURITE TO WIN)
- South Korea – currently priced at 5.50 (decimal odds), +450 (American/moneyline odds), 9/2 (fractional odds) = 18.20% IPR
- Australia – currently priced at 7.50 (decimal odds), +650 (American/moneyline odds), 13/2 (fractional odds) = 13.30% IPR
In other words, a safer bet would be Japan winning the 2024 AFC Asian Cup and steering clear of betting on India. They are in Group B, along with Syria, Uzbekistan, and Australia.
What does the future of football look like in India?
It will be a slow process for India to be able to compete on the global stage against footballing giants like Brazil, Argentina, England, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany. However, most people are optimistic and believe that achieving this level isn’t too far away.
The national tea, however, is still a long way from being at its best, and there is only room for improvement.
The recent combined efforts from all of those involved to develop football from the grassroots level have signified a huge change in attitude. The changes so far are already helping to shape the football landscape across the country.
If the country continues to invest heavily in football and expand the way it has been over the past decade, there will be nothing to stop India from achieving recognition as one of the greatest footballing nations on the planet.
Final note
India has long been a sporting nation and has overcome many challenges. They are home to some of the world’s best-known sports stars and will be looking to develop the next generation of football stars they can call their own.
You never know; the next Messi or Ronaldo of the future might very well be playing at the grassroots level in India today.
On a final note, if you decide to place real money bets at 10CRIC Sports on any upcoming sporting events, always remember to set a reasonable budget before depositing, and then gamble responsibly and within your means. Never treat sports betting as a job.
Never borrow money just to place bets, and never chase your losses.
See also:
- Indian Super League Winner Prize Money
- Indian Super League Schedule
- Prize money ICC Cricket World Cup
- Indian Cricketers Salaries
