India vs Thailand: Wishes pour in as Blue Tigers start their AFC Asian Cup campaign

As India are set to start their AFC Asian Cup campaign, the Indian sporting fraternity have sent Blue Tigers their wishes. 

Placed in Group A along with Bahrain and UAE – considered to be top teams in Asia –, India will take each match as it comes to make it to the knockout stage. Thailand are ranked 118 in the FIFA rankings while India is at 97. 

‏‏President of the All India Football Federation, Praful Patel shared a video and message wishing the young lads the very best.

Wishing @IndianFootball great success in the #AsianCup2019 tournament!
Good luck to the team for today's kick-start game against #Thailand. Go out and give a full-hearted performance and you should expect nothing but an extraordinary result in the end.@theafcdotcom @afcasiancup

— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) January 6, 2019

President @praful_patel is in Abu Dhabi to support the #BlueTigers for their first @afcasiancup match tomorrow! #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #AsianDream pic.twitter.com/M4iS59exEU

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 5, 2019

Wrestler Bajrang Punia has already decided his victory move.

I'll celebrate like this for our victory! C'mon @indianfootball we are with you. #WeCanDoIt Jai Hind  #BackTheBlue #BlueTigers #AsianDream pic.twitter.com/hehCsLIl61

— Bajrang Punia (@BajrangPunia) January 6, 2019

Former Indian Footballer Bhaichung Bhutia took to Twitter to wish the team on behalf of the whole of Sikkim.

All the very best to @IndianFootball for the #AsiaCup! pic.twitter.com/u36rov6but

— Bhaichung Bhutia (@bhaichung15) January 5, 2019

Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan also wished skipper Sunil Chhetri and the boys the best of luck.

Skipper @chetrisunil11 and his boys will take the field tomorrow vs Thailand in the Asian Football Confederation Cup that kicks off today.
This is a key tournament for their World Cup qualification bid.
I support the #BlueTigers, let us all #BackTheBlue @IndianFootball

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 5, 2019

The football superstars from Bundesliga also sent their wishes in a special video as they picked their favourite Indian players.

The stars  from @Bundesliga_EN have special wishes for the #BlueTigers  ahead of the #AsianCup2019 .
Thank you for the support @MarioGoetze @YannSommer1 @LMatthaeus10#BackTheBlue #AsianDream #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/YCI5DGpBC6

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 3, 2019

Striker Philip Adjah Tetteh of Mohammedan SC also wished the team.

Striker Philip Adjah Tetteh has a very special message for the @IndianFootball Team ahead of @afcasiancup #BackTheBlue #AsianDream pic.twitter.com/yDT7XsQpSq

— Mohammedan SC (@MDSCOfficial) January 5, 2019

Ex-FIFA official Shaji Prabhakaran also wished the team.

Please block the schedule and let's put all our energy to #BackTheBlue #indianfootball team from anywhere and everywhere. #AsianCup2019 Thanks @StarFootball https://t.co/wdcslJ9vVk

— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) January 4, 2019

Iain Hume of FC Pune also had a special message for the players.

.@FCPuneCity's @Humey_7 has a special message for his #HeroISL teammates past and present as the @IndianFootball team's opening @afcasiancup fixture against Thailand inches closer!#BlueTigers #BackTheBlue #FanBannaPadega #THAIND pic.twitter.com/XExNs2uXHN

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) January 6, 2019

Rene Mihelic of Delhi Dynamos also shared a video wishing the team.

.@DelhiDynamos' Rene Mihelic has sent across wishes for his #HeroISL teammates and the @IndianFootball team ahead of the @afcasiancup!#BlueTigers #BackTheBlue #FanBannaPadega pic.twitter.com/aUchpxvH4l

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) January 5, 2019

India will next take on UAE on 10 January and on 14 January will take on Bahrain.