New Delhi – In-form Thai No 2 Jazz Janewattananond will have the Masters on his when he heads to the Indian Open next week.

The 23-year-old Thai has been riding on a rich vein of form, claiming his third Asian Tour title at the season-opener in Singapore in January and finishing inside the top-10 six times in his last nine starts on the Asian Tour. He is also currently shining in Malaysia.

Jazz will spearhead a strong Thai challenge, which also features Tour winners Poom Saksansin, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, Panuphol Pittayarat and veteran Prayad Marksaeng at the US$1.75 million event.

An elite 156-man field from 28 countries, consisting of more than 40 Tour winners and seven Order of Merit champions, will be vying for top honours at the prestigious event, which will once again be promoted by the Indian Golf Union, co-sanctioned by both the Asian and European Tours.

Jazz, who sits atop the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity standings, says he will be hoping it’s a case of third-time lucky at the Indian Open. He came in tied for 34th in his first attempt at the DLF Golf and Country Club in 2017 before missing the halfway cut on the same course last year.

“It’s a tough course, everyone knows that. It’s a beast, very narrow and tough, so I’ll be happy to even just make the cut this time,” said Jazz, whose best finish at the event came in 2016, when he finished in a tie for 15th on a different course.

Now ranked 78th in the world, Jazz stands an outside chance to qualify for The Masters next month. The talented Thai, who is currently playing in the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, needs to break into the world’s top-50 following the Indian Open.

Alternatively, he could potentially earn an invite to The Masters, just like reigning Order of Merit champion Shubhankar Sharma last year, should he perform well in Malaysia and India these two weeks.

Late yesterday he was doing everything he could to impress, standing at six under par midway through his second round, in a tie for second and just three shots off the lead.

“My game is a lot different coming into these two weeks so I can’t wait to try and conquer the DLF course this time around. I missed the cut last year but I’m still looking forward to a new challenge next week,” added Jazz.

Also relishing the challenge at the Indian showpiece is two-time Asian Tour winner Panuphol, who has been in a relatively consistent form so far this season.

“It is a huge event for me so I am really looking forward to next week. I have been pretty consistent this year, although I admit it hasn’t been my best golf. But I have put in the hard work and I am excited to take on big events like the Indian Open,” said the 26-year-old Panuphol.

Missing out on a top-10 finish last year after making a double-bogey on the 14th hole in the final round, Panuphol will seize his chance at redemption on the notorious par-four that has been ranked as the toughest hole in the tournament for the last two consecutive years.

“It is an interesting golf course, I would say it’s very challenging but fun to play as well. I would love to play well because it is a huge event. I made a double-bogey on hole 14 and bogeyed the 17th on the final day last year, if not I could have had a top-10 result so hopefully I will do better this time,” added Panuphol, who ended up in a tie for 16th last year.

A host of former winners of the event will also add to the strength of the field. They include Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman, China’s Liang Wen-Chong, Australia’s David Gleeson and India’s SSP Chawrasia, Anirban Lahiri, and Arjun Atwal.

Indonesia started strongly and held the majority of possession for the first 20 minutes with Thailand relying on counter attacks as Supachai Jaided looked dangerous on the ball.

However, the Young Garuda fell behind a minute later after Shinnaphat Leeaoh found the back of the net connecting from Worachit Kanitsribumphen’s free-kick to give Thailand a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Supachai continued to cause problems for Indonesia in the second half and earned a penalty nine minutes after the restart.

The Buriram United forward made no mistake from the spot, beating goalkeeper Awan Setho to double Thailand’s advantage.

Indra Sjafri brought in fresh legs with Sani Riski Fauzi replacing Saddil Ramdani in the 51st minute and Witan Sulaeman coming on for Osvaldo Haay 12 minutes later, but there was no stopping Thailand.

In a swift attacking move from midfield, the young War Elephants advanced on their opponents and Supachai finished cooly in the 71st minute after connecting to a cross from the right.

There was no respite for Indonesia as they conceded a fourth three minutes later when Supachok Sarachat wriggled his way into the box before scoring a clinical finish.

Next up for Thailand is a match against Brunei on Sunday, while Indonesia will take on 2018 runners-up Vietnam.

The 25-year-old from Montrouge, France, became a Rolex First-Time Winner in February when she captured the ISPS Handa Vic Open in Australia. That win has proven to be a driving force behind Boutier’s renewed spirit on the golf course.

“It’s definitely made me more confident in my game, my ability to win out there,” said Boutier, who speaks openly about battling through mental struggles during the end of her collegiate career at Duke University and her first two seasons on the Symetra Tour. “I feel like I was kind of lacking that confidence last year. Being able to get that first win on the first tournament was definitely helpful with that. I feel like also my game has been getting better and better, so I’m just super happy to be able to start the tournament this way.”

Nine-time LPGA winner Na Yeon Choi, playing in her first event since last April thanks to a chronic back injury, carded seven birdies en route to a 7-under 65. The 2012 U.S. Women’s Open champion is tied for second with four other players – two-time Tour winner Jin Young Ko, 2016 Olympian Nanna Koerstz Madsen and 2019 Tour rookiesCharlotte Thomas and Alana Uriell.

CHOI COMES OUT FIRING IN LPGA RETURN

Na Yeon Choi took a medical extension in April 2018 after aggravating a back injury while competing in the HUGEL-Air Premia LA Open. Today, she returned to the LPGA Tour after 11 months to sit one off the lead at the 2019 Bank of Hope Founders Cup at -7.

“I’m very happy back on tour,” said Choi, winner of the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open. “I needed some break, so I had a break and I did a lot of rehab to get stronger.” Choi said the time off from golf was a new experience for her, and she really enjoyed the opportunity to rest and travel on her own terms. After some time away, which included some solo trips to Germany, Croatia and Austria, the game called the 31-year-old back to the course.

“I didn’t play golf for four, five months, and then suddenly I just woke up in the morning (and said), I miss golf,” she said. “I was waiting until I felt that I miss golf.”

This week, the Republic of Korea native has a newfound focus on having fun. “I didn’t expect any good score today because this is first day for me,” said Choi, who credits legendary LPGA stars Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel with helping her accept that she needed to step away from the game. “I practiced hard of course, but like it’s hard to tell how I’m going to shoot the first day. Less expectation I think always give you better result. I think that’s really funny.”

URIELL PICKS UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF

What a whirlwind two weeks it’s been for 2019 LPGA Tour rookie Alana Uriell. On March 10, the University of Arkansas graduate captured the Symetra Tour’s season-opening SKYiGOLF Championship, a win coming in her professional debut. The very next day, she made her way from south Florida to her hometown of Carlsbad, Calif., to participate in Media Day for the Kia Classic. Fast forward to March 21 and Uriell again finds herself right at the top of the leaderboard, this time in a tie for second after 18 holes at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup.

“I think it’s given me a lot of confidence coming into the LPGA having a win under my belt,” said Uriell, who carded seven birdies in her bogey-free 7-under 65. “I feel a little more at home out here so I don’t mine letting loose and seeing what I’m capable of.”

With 54 holes remaining in the tournament, it is certainly too early to forecast a second victory for Uriell. But should she find herself in the winner’s circle come Sunday, she would become just the third player in LPGA Tour history to earn victory in her Membership debut. The most recent? Uriell’s fellow second-place player Jin Young Ko, who won the 2018 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in her first event as an LPGA Member.

SCHMELZEL DRIVES ON IN HONOR OF THE FOUNDERS

In celebration of the past, present and future of the game, the LPGA Tour this week unveiled a new brand campaign entitled #DriveOn. As the Tour’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer Roberta Bowman said, “Drive On is clearly rooted in golf, but it’s a bigger idea. It captures the power and potential in each of us and celebrates the hard work, focus, and tenacity that it takes to achieve our goals.”

The Drive On campaign initially launched with a 45-second film celebrating LPGA Tour athletes and all young women with a dream to achieve. Phoenix native and 2019 LPGA rookie Sarah Schmelzel is making her third career LPGA start this week and reflected on the impact the 13 LPGA Founders have had on her career.

“It’s amazing,” she said after getting off to a hot start with a 5-under 67 on Thursday. “What the Founders have done for us is something we can never repay them for, to be able to stand out here and live our dreams and play in front of these grandstands and everything. It’s amazing to see the opposite end of that where we have the LPGA*USGA Girls’ Golf out here and getting to see them and be the media room and everything. I really think it’s good for us and good for golf.”

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 89 Celine Boutier (64)

• Boutier’s first-round 64 is the second-lowest round of her LPGA Tour career; she shot a 63 in the third round of the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• This is the first time in Boutier’s LPGA Tour career that she has held the lead following any round, with the exception of her victory at the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open
• She hit 13 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens
• Boutier is in her third season on the LPGA Tour; she became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open
• This is Boutier’s fifth event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; she won the ISPS Handa Vic Open and has two other top-25 finishes
• She is competing in her second Bank of Hope Founders Cup; she missed the cut in 2018
• She is a 2016 graduate of Duke University with a degree in Psychology and Economics; she was a member of the 2014 NCAA National Championship-winning team

Rolex Rankings No. 9 Jin Young Ko (65)

• Ko’s first-round 65 is ties for the second-lowest round of her LPGA Tour career; she has shot 64 three times, including in the fourth round of the 2019 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
• She hit 12 of 14 greens and 14 of 18 fairways
• Ko is in her second season on the LPGA Tour; she won the 2018 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, and also won the 2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship as a non-Member
• This is Ko’s fourth event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; she finished second at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open and tied for third at the HSBC Women’s World Championship
• She is competing in her second Bank of Hope Founders Cup; she finished T46 in 2018

Rolex Rankings No. 486 Na Yeon Choi (65)

• Choi’s first-round 65 is her best round since she shot a 64 in the second round of the 2016 ShopRite LPGA Classic
• Her first-round 65 is her best round ever at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup, besting three rounds of 66 (second and fourth rounds in 2015, third round in 2016)
• She hit 13 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens
• Choi is in her 12th season on the LPGA Tour; she has nine career victories, including a major win at the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open
• Choi missed most of the 2018 LPGA season due to a back injury; this is her first event since a first-round withdrawal from the HUGEL-Air Premia LA Open in April 2018
• She is competing in her eighth Bank of Hope Founders Cup; she finished T2 in 2012 and has one other top-10 finish
• She was No. 2 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings for 36 weeks in 2012 and 2013

Rolex Rankings No. 258 Charlotte Thomas (65)

• Thomas’s first-round 65 is the lowest round of her LPGA Tour career, besting the 68s she shot in the first two rounds of the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open
• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens
• Thomas is a 2019 LPGA Tour rookie; this is her fifth career LPGA Tour event, joining the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open and 2017, 2018 and 2019 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Opens
• This is Thomas’ third event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; she finished T2 at the ISPS Handa Vic Open
• She played on the Symetra Tour in 2017 and 2018, with a best finish of second at the 2018 Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge
• She is a 2011 graduate of the University of Washington, with a degree in Mass Communications; she was a member of the 2016 NCAA National Championship-winning team
• She was born in England but spent much of her teenage years in Singapore

Rolex Rankings No. 483 Alana Uriell (65)

• She hit 10 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens
• In her professional debut two weeks ago, Uriell won the Symetra Tour’s 2019 SKYiGOLF Championship on March 10
• Uriell is a 2019 LPGA Tour rookie; this is her fourth career LPGA Tour start and first as a professional, joining amateur appearances at the 2016 and 2017 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and the 2018 Evian Championship
• She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas

Rolex Rankings No. 219 Nanna Koerstz Madsen (65)

• Madsen’s first-round 65 ties for her second lowest round score of her LPGA Tour career; she has shot 65 two other times at the 2015 Ricoh Women’s British Open, and 2018 CP Women’s Open
• She hit 11 of 18 greens and 8 of 14 fairways
• Madsen is in her second season on the LPGA Tour; she recorded her career-best finish T15 at the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• This is Madsen’s third event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; she finished and T27 at the ISPS Handa Vic Open and T38 at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
• She is competing in her second Bank of Hope Founders Cup; she finished T32 in 2018

QUICK HITS

• Xiyu Lin had a hole-in-one at No. 17, from 142 yards with a 9-iron; she wins a two-year lease for a 2019 Ford Ranger pick-up truck and finished the day in a tie for 46th at -2
• 2019 LPGA rookie Cheyenne Knight qualified for the tournament by firing a 63 in the Monday qualifier; she took advantage of her opportunity to play by shooting a 6-under 66 in Thursday’s opening round

The 2019 event will be the 16th staging since the Volvo China Open became a European Tour event in 2004 and the second in succession as a tri-sanctioned tournament.

Sven De Smet, Chairman of Volvo China Open Board said he was pleased to see the event maintain its tri-sanctioned status. “As the first global brand to sponsor international professional golf in mainland China, Volvo has always been committed to promoting the game of golf in both China and Asia,” he said.

“After 24 years of development, the Volvo China Open has become well-established as the jewel in the crown of Chinese golf as well as an important component of Volvo’s brand promotion strategy in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

“Our long-term direction is to constantly improve the level and quality of the event. Having the Volvo China Open tri-sanctioned by the China Golf Association and the European and Asian Tours will again maintain the high level of fields and world ranking points. In addition, the live TV broadcast will cover more regions via the European Tour and Asian Tour networks and reach millions of computers, tablets and smart phones through more internet platforms, which further expands the influence of the event and the brand of Volvo. This is undoubtedly a win-win co-operation.”

With its return to the Asian Tour in 2018, the Volvo China Open added even more power to the tour with the likes of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Shubhankar Sharma playing in China’s Open Golf Championship. And Zhang Xiao Ning, President of China Golf Association is looking forward to another memorable chapter in the flagship event.

“The Volvo China Open has grown into an important international golf event not only in Asia but also globally, which has effectively promoted the popularity of golf in China as well as highlighted the progress of local professionals. The 25th anniversary has significant meaning and I expect the Chinese players to perform at their best and strive to provide the fifth home-grown champion in the history of China’s National Open Golf Championship.”

With a quarter of a century behind it, the Volvo China Open is Volvo’s longest-running current golf sponsorship and European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley appreciates the Swedish brand’s involvement with the professional game.

“Volvo has an illustrious history with the European Tour and we are proud that the Volvo China Open continues to honour that tradition,” said Pelley. “This year’s edition will mark the 88th occasion that Volvo have been a title sponsor of a tournament on our International Schedule and we thank them, not only for their continued commitment to our game, but also their unwavering support of the European Tour.

“We are also proud of our strong relationships with the Asian Tour and the China Golf Association and this tournament provides a perfect example of the significance and importance of our global alliances.”

Speaking on behalf of the Asian Tour, Acting Chief Executive Officer Cho Minn Thant added: “We are delighted that the Volvo China Open will be part of the Asian Tour for the second year in a row. An event such as this in China makes our international schedule truly complete and our thanks go to the China Golf Association and Volvo for their support of the Asian Tour.

“Our best players are looking forward to competing against top class European Tour and Chinese players in Shenzhen and hope they will be able to emulate the victory of predecessors such as Jeev Milkha Singh and leave their name on the trophy at one of Asia’s top tournaments.”

The 38-year-old American, a quarter-finalist at Indian Wells last week, turned back Jakupovic 7-5, 6-3 in 78 minutes to reach the second round after a rough start.

Jakupovic was serving for the first set and Williams was on the back foot before the qualifier wilted under the pressure and 43rd-ranked Williams booked a second-round matchup against Spanish 24th seed Carla Suarez Navarro.

Tenth seed Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and younger sister of Venus, will open in the second round against Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson, who eliminated German qualifier Laura Siegemund 6-1, 5-7, 7-5.

Venus credits her mother, Oracene Price, will instilling the character and desire to match the tennis skills developed her their father and long-time coach, Richard Williams.

“Growing up in my home, we weren’t allowed to be weak, so it just wasn’t an option,” Venus Williams said. “The only option was to be strong. You had a choice of being strong or being strong, so we were strong.”

Williams, a three time Miami Open champion, is the oldest player in the women’s singles draw but has no problem striving for more titles.

“I don’t think there is really any sacrifices,” she said. “I think it’s really only pluses, especially if you’re able to execute on your dream. That’s really what anyone and everyone wants.

“One of the challenges is that it’s really a lifestyle and there is never any moment where you’re not trying to get better or that you forget about tennis.

“You just feel intense pressure to get better and to work.”

Three consecutive breaks saw 80th-ranked Jakupovic ease into an early 3-2 lead with Williams struggling on serve, and she served for the first set at 5-4 before Williams answered to claim a set that saw seven service breaks in all.

Williams stormed ahead 5-1 in the second set and cruised in from there.

Williams, in a record 20th Miami appearance, knows she faces a tougher test in Suarez Navarro even though she owns a 6-3 career edge on the Spaniard.

“She’s crafty, feisty, and competitive,” Williams said. “She plays maybe a little more topspin than others and then some slice. So it’s a little bit atypical game.”

Mari Osaka, the older sister of world number one Naomi Osaka, was ousted in her opening match, falling to American Whitney Osuigwe 6-2, 6-4.

Canada’s Bianca Andreescu, fresh off the Indian Wells title, rallied to beat Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 in her opening match.

World number two Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic downed Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4, to become the first player into the third round.

In ATP first-round matches, Australia’s Bernard Tomic dispatched Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 6-1 and Aussie Jordan Thompson downed Britain’s Cameron Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

Fraser, who won the inaugural Maybank Championship in 2016, surprised even himself with his position on the leaderboard after considering himself as a ‘part-time golfer’ nowadays. Ranked 345th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), the Australian has not broken into the winner’s circle since that victory in Malaysia.

Philippines’ Angelo Que opened his campaign at the US$3 million event in a blistering pace, getting to nine-under after 11 holes.

Two double-bogeys on 15 and 16 knocked him off the perch of the leaderboard but he would finish the round just like the way he started with a birdie to trail Fraser and Elvira by one shot in a share of third place with Austria’s Matthias Schwab and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

Jazz showed why he is leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit with another assured performance.

The three-time Asian Tour winner marked his card with seven birdies and a bogey for an encouraging 66 at the Malaysian showpiece.

South Africa’s Ernie Els, who will captain the International team for this year’s Presidents Cup, signed for a 68 to share seventh place together with seven other players that include India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, Australia’s Zach Murray, Thailand’s Poom Saksansin and Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung.

Leading Scores after round 1 of the Maybank Championship being played at the par 72, 7136 Yards Saujana GCC course (am – denotes amateur):

65 – Marcus Fraser (AUS), Nacho Elvira (ESP).

66 – Matthias Schwab (AUT), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Angelo Que (PHI).

67 – Thomas Pieters (BEL).

68 – Poom Saksansin (THA), Ernie Els (RSA), Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND), Brandon Stone (RSA), Dean Burmester (RSA), Prom Meesawat (THA), Zach Murray (AUS), Nicholas Fung (MAS).

69 – Danny Masrin (INA), Ricardo Gouveia (POR), Andrea Pavan (ITA), S.S.P. Chawrasia (IND), Benjamin Hebert (FRA), Masahiro Kawamura (JPN), Julian Suri (USA), Terry Pilkadaris (AUS), Scott Hend (AUS), Lucas Herbert (AUS), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA).

70 – Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL), Thomas Detry (BEL), Viraj Madappa (IND), Jorge Campillo (ESP), Sanghyun Park (KOR), Oliver Fisher (ENG), Marcus Kinhult (SWE), Sihwan Kim (USA), Siddikur Rahman (BAN), Kurt Kitayama (USA), Padraig Harrington (IRL), Paul Peterson (USA), Scott Vincent (ZIM), Richard Mcevoy (ENG), Travis Smyth (AUS).

71 – Jake Higginbottom (AUS), Yusaku Miyazato (JPN), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT), Shubhankar Sharma (IND), Ryo Ishikawa (JPN), Wu Ashun (CHN), Shaun Norris (RSA), Ryan Fox (NZL), Shahriffuddin Ariffin (MAS), Minchel Choi (KOR), Keith Horne (RSA), Danthai Boonma (THA), Alvaro Quiros (ESP), Louis De Jager (RSA), Guido Migliozzi (ITA), Robert Karlsson (SWE), Chris Wood (ENG), Erik Van Rooyen (RSA), Chris Paisley (ENG), Robin Roussel (FRA), Jens Dantorp (SWE), Maximilian Kieffer (GER).

His stint in charge got off to an inauspicious start before a 4,000-strong crowd as the loss meant the team will miss the final of the four-nation China Cup.

Chanathip Songkrasin, known as the “Thai Messi”, slotted a pass into the net 33 minutes into the game at the Guangxi Sports Centre in the southern city of Nanning.

The Warrior Elephants even came close to widening their lead in the second half but were denied by great saves by goalkeeper Yan Gunling while China’s forwards missed several chances to equalise.

Cannavaro’s appointment as China coach last week was met with criticism and even anger.

The Chinese Football Association has not made it clear if it was a permanent or temporary role for the Italian, who will remain in charge of Chinese Super League giants Guangzhou Evergrande.

The 45-year-old’s ascension to the post — with mentor and predecessor Marcello Lippi remaining as an adviser — was widely predicted in Chinese media.

But sceptics said the former Juventus and Real Madrid centre-back has done little to prove he deserves the job.

In Cannavaro’s first full season with Evergrande last year, the southern team relinquished their seven-year grip on the Chinese league trophy.

He previously had a seven-month spell with Evergrande before being sacked in 2014, and won promotion with Tianjin Quanjian in 2016, steering them to third in the CSL table the following year.

China and Cannavaro — if he lasts beyond the next match — are building towards the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, which begin in September.

China have reached the World Cup only once, in 2002, when they failed to win a point or even score a goal.

The four-team China Cup in Nanning sees Uzbekistan play Uruguay Friday night. The winners play Thailand in the finals next Monday while China will settle for a third-place game.

Gama believes Thailand can approach the games under no pressure at all, having already been handed a spot in the finals next January by virtue of being tournament hosts.

“The pressure is on the other teams in our group as they all want to reach the finals,” said the Brazilian, who has entered his team in the qualifying competition to test his players, even though he didn’t need to.

“This is, however, an important tournament for us. We’ve come here to show our potential and measure the level of our players.”

Thailand’s opening match is against Indonesia at 5pm on Friday and is being shown live on PPTV (Channel 26).

A total of 44 Asian nations are competing to take part in next January’s finals in Thailand, made up of 11 four-nation groups in 11 host countries. The winners of each group and the four best runners-up will make it through.

“We have respect for all the teams in group K – they are all dangerous,” added Gama, the former Buriram and Chiang Rai United coach. “Indonesia just won the Asean under 23 [last month], while Vietnam are the hosts and Brunei are a strong team.

“For Thailand, we’ve come here knowing that we need to produce the best results. We need to show that we are of quality and can improve even more.”

Gama complimented the hosts for continuing their development and becoming the top football nation in this region, having won the 2018 Asean Cup and reached the quarter-finals of last month’s Asian Cup.

“Vietnam have improved a lot recently but Thailand still remain a strong team,” Gama added. “My job is to help regain the confidence of the players. We have to change their attitude –that is the key.”

Despite not having his full choice of players – some are away with the senior squad at the China Cup in Nanning – Gama is confident his side will impressive in Hanoi.