South Asian Games 2019: India announce their 20-women football squad

What's the story?

The defending champions of the women's football tournament, India have announced their 20-woman squad for South Asian Games 2019. Ashalata Devi will lead the Indian side in the four-team tourney.

The background

The Indian women's football team has always shone at the South Asian Games. The team had won the gold medal in both the previous editions by defeating Nepal in the final. Apart from India and Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives will take part in this year's football event.

The heart of the matter

There are no major surprises in the Indian women's football team with all the big names present in the squad. As reported by News18, the selectors have not picked Dalima Chhibber in the team because she is busy in Canada while Kamala Devi has not returned to the squad because of her issues with the coach Maymol Rocky.

The 20-woman squad goes as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Aditi Chauhan, E. Panthoi Chanu, M. Linthoinganbi Devi

DEFENDERS: Roja Devi, Jabamani Tudu, Ashalata Devi, Michele Castanha, Sweety Devi, W. Linthoinganbi Devi

MIDFIELDERS: Ratanbala Devi, Ritu Rani, Sangita Basfore, Sumithra Kamaraj

FORWARDS: Anju Tamang, Dangmei Grace, Daya Devi, Manisha, Ranjana Chanu, Sandhiya Ranganathan, Bala Devi

What's next?

The women's football event will kick off on 3rd December as India will lock horns with Maldives in Pokhara. The four-team tourney culminates on 10th December with the top two teams fighting for the title in the finale.

So far, India has been the most successful team with two gold medals while Nepal has finished at the second position on both the occasions. '

Bangladesh had won two bronze medals in this competition but, this time around Sri Lanka and Maldives will look to secure their first ever SAG medal in the women's football event.