SINGAPORE - The Republic's SEA Games football team lost 0-1 to India's Under-23 side in a friendly match on Sunday (July 9) at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

After a scoreless first half, India's Germanpreet Singh, who was left unmarked in the box, gave the visitors the lead with a curling effort that flew into the top corner.

Singapore fashioned few chances throughout the match and rarely troubled their Indian opponents.

This was the country's SEA Games squad's eighth loss in 10 matches since the start of the year and continues a disappointing run of form ahead of this month's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship qualifiers in Yangon and the Aug 19-30 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Singapore's medal chances at the biennial Games had received a boost after being drawn favourably in Group A alongside hosts Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei and Laos.

They had avoided defending champions Thailand and dark horses Vietnam and Indonesia.

Singapore will face India again on Wednesday in the same venue before flying out to Myanmar for the AFC tournament.