The Shabbir Ali lead side defied all odds to create history at the 1974 AFC Youth Championship...
The prelude and the outcome to the 1974 AFC Youth Championship are very similar to the 1962 Asian Games wherein India defied all odds and won the gold medal.
Like their predecessors, the India colts in 1974 were initially not allowed to take part in the competition by the Indian government as the country’s performance at the continental level wasn’t satisfactory post the triumph in 1962.
However, after much persuasion by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Indian team lead by Shabbir Ali boarded the plane to Bangkok.