BHIM-UPI TOISA 2019 Nominees: Football

NEW DELHI: The fourth edition of the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA), powered by BHIM-UPI, is India's first of its kind and largest multi-discipline people's choice sports awards. TOISA is a platform created by the Times Group to recognise and reward Indian sporting talent and achievements on a global scale and will be held soon to honour the lionhearts who have given their blood, sweat and tears to make the country proud.
Ahead of the TOISA to be held on March 5, here's a recap of the how these Indian footballers fared in the year 2019.
Sunil Chhetri
Indian football's old warhorse and men's captain Sunil Chhetri has been the pillar of the national team for over a decade, after having made his debut way back in 2005. In January 2019, India's premier striker Chhetri surpassed Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi (65) to become the second highest active international goal scorer and is only behind Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on the overall list. Till the end of December 2019 Chhetri had 72 international goals. Chhetri, who was named AFC Asian Icon in 2018, also added another feather to his already illustrious cap when he went past the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia to become India's most capped international footballer.
Sandesh Jhingan
Sandesh Jhingan has been the mainstay of the Indian defence line for the past few years. The 26-year-old Chandigarh-born footballer, who made his India debut at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, hardly puts a foot wrong and always steps up to the plate to deliver. The 26-year-old stout defender always remains calm and composed despite being in the thick of things in the role of a right back. Jhingan, who helped India win the Intercontinental Cup in 2018, is known for his aggressive tackling, especially when it came to negating strikers in the air, with his precise headers and air challenges.

Jeje Lalpekhlua
Jeje Lalpekhlua, popularly known as the Mizo Sniper, has been tagged as the next big thing in Indian football after Sunil Chhetri. Jeje has established himself as a first-choice striker who delivers when it matters the most. Making his foray into the senior ranks from the U-19 level, the pocket-sized, yet robust striker always come to the fore for his team. Jeje, who was also a member of the triumphant Indian team which won the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, has played for India 56 times (till December 2019), since making his debut, scoring 23 goals till the AFC Asian Cup 2019.
Amrinder Singh
Indian national team goalkeeper Amrinder Singh has impressed one and all in the recent past. He was around 16-years-old when he started playing as a goalkeeper in Punjab, and prior to that he played as a striker. Amrinder, who has been a mainstay under the bars for Mumbai City FC in the domestic circuit, made his international debut in 2017 for the senior team against Mauritius which ended in a 2-1 win for India. Amrinder has so far played five matches for the Indian team.