Sandesh Jhingan (footballer)

Sandesh Jhingan (born 21 July 1993) is an Indian professional footballer. who represents both the Indian national team and Indian Super League side Bengaluru as a defender. He earned his debut for the India national team in 2015 after winning the AIFF Emerging Player of the Year award in 2014. Jhingan received the Arjuna Award in 2020, which is India’s second-highest athletic honour. The 2020–21 AIFF Men’s Player of the Year Trophy went to him as well.

Personal Lifestyle

Sandesh Jhingan was born 21 July 1993 in Chandigarh, India. Jhingan won the Arjuna Award on August 21, 2020, making him the twenty-seventh player to do so. Jhingan is a fan of the Manchester United team from the Premier League. He is wed to Yakutian photojournalist Ivanka Pavlova.

Career

Jhingan, a Chandigarh native, trained in football at the St. Stephen’s School. Jhingan assisted the team in the Manchester United Premier Cup’s South-East Asian finals while he was a member of the school. Additionally, he competed for the state squad of Chandigarh at the under-19 level, aiding them in capturing the B.C. Roy Trophy. Jhingan was called up to attend trials at I-League 2nd Division club United Sikkim in November 2011 after putting on strong displays for his state side and academy team. Jhingan’s trials went well, and the following month, in December, he joined with the team. Jhingan assisted United Sikkim in getting promoted to the I-League after the 2012 season by playing alongside former India internationals Bhaichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh.

Kerala Blasters: 2014–2020

Jhingan was chosen by the Kerala Blasters in the second round of the 2014 ISL Inaugural Domestic Selection on July 22, one day after turning 21. In the team’s season opener against NorthEast United, he was a substitute for the team. Jhingan started for the Blasters in their second game of the season against Chennaiyin despite missing the first one. He began the game and played well, but he was unable to stop the Kerala Blasters from losing 2-1. Jhingan made 14 appearances for the Kerala Blasters during the 2014 season after that. He was a mainstay for the team. Jhingan’s success for the Kerala Blasters contributed to him winning the league’s “Emerging Player of the Year” honour.

Controversy

Jhingan gained notoriety on February 19, 2022, for making a “sexist remark” following an ATK Mohun Bagan match against Kerala Blasters, his previous team. After the game, ATK Mohun Bagan shared an Instagram story in which Jhingan could be heard saying, “Aurato ke saath match khel aaya hoon, aurato ke saath” (I have played a match with women, with women”). The fans immediately criticised him, and the hashtag #BringBack21 became popular on Twitter as a result of calls from Kerala Blasters supporters for the club’s management to reconsider the decision to retire the number 21 jersey after Jhingan had departed the team. Later, Jhingan issued an official apology via his social media accounts. Bijoy Varghese received his number 21 jersey from the Blasters later that day, April 21, 2022, as the team announced the extension of his three-year deal.

External links

Sandesh Jhingan at ESPN FC

Sandesh Jhingan at National-Football-Teams.com