India football coach upbeat ahead of Asiad

India's recently-appointed English football coach Stephen Constantine was 'upbeat' ahead of the team's departure to Busan to compete in the 14th Asian Games.

"We have performed well against Uzbekistan, Jamaica and in the LG Cup in Vietnam and we are upbeat with the international exposure the team got prior to this crucial event," Constantine told reporters at a farewell function organised by the All India Football Federation in Delhi on Sunday.

Constantine said he does not have any specific strategy for the Games as a whole and would face opponents on a game-by-game basis.

"Our aim would be to qualify for the quarter-finals and then see from thereon," he said.

"We want to win," he added, when asked to elaborate.

Queried about India's first outing against Bangladesh, he said, "Bangladesh are our neighbours and rivals and we look forward to a competitive game against them."

He added that the match against China would be crucial.

"We haven't played against Turkmenistan as yet, but would certainly benefit from the recent games we played against Uzbekistan here."

AIFF president Priyaranjan Dasmunshi said, "It is a challenge to be within the top eight teams in Asia and it would be a good exposure for the team before the Afro-Asian Games scheduled for next year.

"Our boys are no less courageous than the other participants and are prepared to face any team."

Dasmunshi also announced that he is holding talks with a major sponsor who has promised a special bonus for the team if it qualifies for the quarter-finals.