Sunil Chhetri, India’s evergreen forward, continues to inspire future generations with his iconic performances on the pitch and his disciplined lifestyle off it.

In a heartwarming gesture, Chhetri paid a surprise visit to the Indian women’s football team during their ongoing training camp for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, held at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru.

The seasoned campaigner motivated the Blue Tigresses with a lively pep talk ahead of their training grind and shared his valuable experiences to boost the squad's morale.

Under the guidance of Crispin Chhetri, Sunil's former teammate, the Indian women's team will feature in the upcoming qualifying fixtures in Chiang Mai, Thailand, scheduled from June 23 to July 5. They have been drawn in Group B, alongside hosts Thailand, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, and Iraq.

They will play two FIFA Women’s International Friendlies against Uzbekistan on May 29 and June 3, in Bengaluru.

Chhetri urged the players to make the most of this opportunity and push beyond their limits. He emphasised the paramount importance of time and encouraged the Blue Tigresses to harness their full potential and get the job done, relying on their collective spirit and unwavering determination.

“Yesterday, I was 18 years old! Today, I’m 41! Your coach (Crispin Chhetri) and I were on the same team once. The reason I am saying this is to tell you that time flies. Fast! If you really want it bad, take all the margins,” Chhetri said.

“There will be no difference between sleeping at 10 pm and sleeping at 10.45 pm in one night. But do this for a year, and you’ll see the difference. If you eat a samosa one day, it won’t make too much of a difference. But don’t eat it for one year; you see where you are! Please don’t waste it (your youth). You’re still young. Just go mad! You’ll get plenty of time to live a normal life,” he continued.

Chhetri had announced his retirement from international football last summer, following the game against Kuwait in the FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Kolkata. However, in a surprising turn of events, the veteran forward came out of retirement to participate in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.

Though Chhetri has returned to the national setup, the Indian legend—now in his 40s—is nearing the end of his illustrious football career. In a trembling voice, he delivered a heartfelt message to the Blue Tigers, expressing how deeply he would miss the rhythm of his footballing life in the days after retirement.

“My football career will end, and I will never be a professional player is the biggest sorrow of my life,” he remarked.

“Nothing scares me or makes me sadder than that thought. There will be a time when I won’t be able to train or compete, I can’t tackle, or I can’t score! There’s just one more year left for that!” Chhetri concluded.

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