Team India announced for Women's SAFF Cup

The inaugural Women’s SAFF Cup (South Asian Football Federation Championships) will be held from December 11 to 23 in Bangladesh. India have been drawn in a group along with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. India face Bhutan in their opener on December 13, then against Sri Lanka on December 15 and then face the hosts Bangladesh on December 17. The other group contains Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan.

The Indian women’s national team ended their camp at the SAI Sub-Centre in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh yesterday travelled to New Delhi and will fly across to Bangladesh tomorrow. The camp in Lucknow was held from October 1 and ended yesterday under coaches Shabid Jabbar and Pratima Biswas.

India are the strongest women’s team in South Asia, so they will go into the first-ever Women’s SAFF Cup as the big favourites especially after having won the gold medal at the 11th South Asian Games also held in Bangladesh.

India Women’s Team

GoalkeepersRoshni (Manipur), Sita Sharma (Orissa)

DefendersK. Rebika Devi (Manipur), A. Romi Devi (Manipur), Alochana Senapati (Orissa), Supriya Routray (Orissa), Tuligoon (West Bengal), Vidyavati (Tamil Nadu)

MidfieldersO. Bembem Devi (Manipur), Ammolya Kamal (Karnataka), Manpreet Kaur (Haryana), Y. Kamla Devi (Manipur), S. Mallick (Orissa), Gayatri Mallick (Orissa)

ForwardsPinky Bompal Magar (Orissa), Ng. Bala Devi (Manipur), T. Tababi Devi (Manipur), Naobi Chanu (Manipur)

OfficialsShahid Jabbar (Chief Coach), Pratima Biswas (Assistant Coach), Kruti Marolia (Physiotherapist)