Kamal Ghorui
KOCHI: Moments after India’s 2-1 win over Hong Kong at the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on Tuesday, Ryan Williams was caught between disbelief and delight.“I still haven’t fully processed the moment. I don’t know what I did after scoring, where I ran, what I felt. Everything just became a blur,” he said. His fourth-minute strike, a finish carved out of instinct and timing, was the cornerstone of India’s win.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Born in Perth, Williams drew attention in late 2025 when he relinquished his Australian citizenship to represent India.The 32-year-old dwelled on his “long wait” to complete his process of becoming an Indian citizen and playing for the Indian national team. As for the early goal to cap it off? “You can’t write it,” he said.“I actually feel faster now than I did at 27,” he said, adding: “With age, your runs become smarter. You learn to time them, to read the situation.”
