Mohammad Kaif from Zinc Football Academy Selected for India U-20 Team for SAFF Championship

Udaipur, March 26, 2026 - Mohammad Kaif, a rising football talent from Zinc Football Academy (ZFA) — a flagship social impact initiative of Hindustan Zinc Limited — has been selected for India’s Under-20 national team for the upcoming SAFF U-20 Championship 2026, to be held in Maldives.

India has been placed in Group B and will begin its campaign against Pakistan on March 26, followed by a match against Bangladesh on March 28. Group A includes host Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on April 1, with the final scheduled for April 3.

Kaif, a resident of Makrana in Rajasthan, enters the tournament as a three-time SAFF champion, having won titles at U-16 (2023), U-17 (2024) and U-19 (2025) levels. His aim now is to secure a fourth SAFF title with the Indian team.

Born in 2008, the tall defender was part of the first batch of Zinc Football Academy, established in 2018 in Zawar. Within a few years, he became the first footballer from Rajasthan in over 40 years to represent India at the international level, marking a major milestone for the State in 2023.

Following his development at the ZFA and international debut, Kaif was signed in early 2025 by Hyderabad FC (now Sporting Club Delhi). He has since represented Diamond Harbour FC and South United FC, continuing his steady rise in Indian football.

Since its inception in 2018, the AIFF 3-star rated Zinc Football Academy has consistently produced players for India’s age-group teams, strengthening the national talent pool. Along with Kaif, players like Sahil Poonia and Prem Hansdak have represented the country, while U-17 goalkeeper Rajarup Sarkar has also delivered notable performances.

Recently, the company launched India’s first residential football academy for girls, enrolling its first batch of 20 players from rural backgrounds.

Hindustan Zinc Limited has been supporting sports for nearly four decades, starting with a football stadium in Zawar in 1976, which continues to host national tournaments. Beyond football, the company promotes grassroots talent in athletics, kabaddi and volleyball. Its Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon has placed Udaipur on the global running map, positively impacting around 30,000 lives.

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