Singapore’s under-20 men’s football team gained valuable experience from its recent two-match friendly series against India in Bengaluru, with coach Azmir impressed by the quality of the team’s outing.
The closed-door matches at the Centre for Sports Excellence were part of Singapore’s preparations for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifiers. India won both encounters, securing a 3-0 victory in the opening game before edging Singapore 1-0 in the second match.
The first friendly, played on August 3, saw India produce a convincing performance and score three goals. Rishi Singh Ningthoukhongjam opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time before Singamayum Shami doubled the advantage in the second half. An own goal from Singapore later completed India’s 3-0 victory. The result gave the Singapore side an opportunity to assess its defensive organisation and ability to compete against a physically and technically strong opponent.
India again came out on top in the second meeting on August 6, but the margin was considerably narrower. Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum scored in the fifth minute to give India a 1-0 lead, and the Blue Colts managed to protect their advantage until the final whistle. The second game provided Singapore with another demanding test and allowed the coaching staff to evaluate the players over two different match situations.
For Singapore, the Bengaluru camp was particularly important because the team is preparing for the next stage of the AFC U20 Asian Cup qualification campaign. Facing India in consecutive matches gave the players exposure to international-level competition while allowing the coaching staff to identify areas that require improvement. The experience was also useful for assessing how the squad responds to pressure, maintains its defensive shape and creates opportunities against organised opposition.
The two matches also benefited India as the Blue Colts continued their preparations for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifiers. India were scheduled to face Syria, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh in the qualification tournament in Uzbekistan from August 31 to September 6. The Singapore fixtures therefore formed part of a wider preparation programme for the Indian side ahead of its crucial qualifying campaign.
Despite losing both games, Singapore’s outing in Bengaluru offered important lessons before its own qualification commitments. The improvement in the scoreline from the 3-0 defeat to the 1-0 loss suggested a more competitive second performance, while the back-to-back fixtures provided valuable international match experience. For the Singapore coaching staff, the India trip served as an opportunity to test the squad against strong opposition and identify areas to strengthen before the AFC U20 Asian Cup qualification campaign.