CAFA Nations Cup: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defenders shine; India beat higher-ranked Tajikistan 2-1

India triumphed over Tajikistan 2-1 in the CAFA Nations Cup opener, marking a successful debut for coach Khalid Jamil. Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan scored early, while goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s stellar performance, including a penalty save, secured the win. Despite a strong defensive stance, Jhingan emphasized the need for improvement before facing Iran.