The Indian Tigers delivered a landmark performance at the inaugural AFL Asia Cup in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, securing their first-ever semi-final appearance in an international Australian Rules Football competition.
India’s journey began with a historic win against hosts Vietnam, ending a 13-year drought with an 8-13-61 to 3-4-22 victory. Veteran Asheet Kujur led the charge with three goals, supported by Soyeb Ali and Midlaj A, who scored two each. The momentum carried into their clash with arch-rivals China, where India shattered records with a stunning 17-8-110 to 0-3-3 win — the largest margin of victory at the tournament.
India’s aggressive strategy, crafted by head coach Sudhasil Mitra and former national players Harris Jamal and Jasim Akhtar, proved decisive. Captain Mahesh Tirkey and Midlaj A led the scoring, each contributing four goals in the monumental victory.
On Day 2, the Tigers faced narrow defeats against Hong Kong and Indonesia but displayed resilience and grit. A last-quarter push against Hong Kong ended 6-11-47 to 9-4-58, with Asheet Kujur again shining with three goals. A valiant effort against Indonesia saw India narrowly fall 7-11-53 to 9-7-61, with Soyeb Ali and Sk Rakesh contributing two goals each.
Despite these setbacks, India finished second in Pool A, marking a historic leap in their international performance.
In the semi-finals, the Tigers faced tournament favourites Japan. A strong start saw India leading 4-0-24 in the first quarter, but the experienced Japanese side rallied in the latter stages to secure a 12-10-82 to 7-3-45 victory. Soyeb Ali and Sk Rakesh scored two goals each, while Rohan Hindalekar, Dicosta David, and Oman Manki added to the tally.
India’s stellar run was capped with two players, Soyeb Ali and Prakash Nayak, being named in the prestigious All-Asia Team, a testament to their skill and impact throughout the tournament.
Men’s All-Asia Team:
- Japan: No.2 Rinto Kijima, No.8 Yuki Tabuchi, No.27 Hayata Ono
- Cambodia: No.1 Veasna Leak, No.4 Chivorn Barn
- Indonesia: No.1 Michael Latuperrissa, No.9 Gilang Saputro
- India: No.8 Soyeb Ali, No.11 Prakash Nayak
- Hong Kong: No.2 Brian Cheung
- Pakistan: No.8 Rashid Ali
- Thailand: #11 Mani Narairt Saunders
- China: #6 Lin Dianyu
- Laos: #5 Chaleunesouk Anousith, #22 Chi Bach William Francis
- Coach: Brett Qualtrough
The Tigers’ success is the result of AFL India’s ongoing efforts to revive the sport after a three-year hiatus. With nearly 9,000 active players across 11 states and a national championship scheduled for January 2025, the sport is witnessing a resurgence.
AFL India expressed gratitude to their supporters and sponsors, including Centurion University, Thamarrurr Youth Indigenous Corporation, and Richmond Football Club, for helping make the journey possible.
The final standings of the inaugural AFL Asia Cup saw Japan emerge as champions, followed by Cambodia in second place and Indonesia securing third. India achieved a commendable fourth place, ahead of Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Thailand. The remaining spots were filled by China, Laos, and the hosts, Vietnam, rounding out a competitive and historic tournament.
The Indian Tigers’ remarkable performance at the AFL Asia Cup has set the stage for a bright future in international Australian Rules Football.
Support Our Journalism
The global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today—with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors—is doing just that. Sustaining this requires support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon