Head coach Thomas Dennerby named a 22-member squad for the Women's Olympic Qualifier Round 1 to be played in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic from April 4. India will play two games against the Kyrgyz Republic this round. The Blue Tigresses will progress to the next round of the Women’s Olympics Qualifiers if they are able to finish first in their group.
Preparation for Women’s Olympics Qualifiers
The preparation for the Olympics Qualifiers started in February with two friendlies against Nepal both of which India drew 2-2 & 0-0 respectively. Dennerby’s side then went for exposure tours to Jordan and Uzbekistan this month for friendlies as part of the final preparation for the Women’s Olympics Qualifiers round 1. The team lost the first of the two friendlies with Jordan by 2-1 but managed to hold them 0-0 in the next one. The last friendly was against Uzbekistan this week which they lost 3-2 through a last-minute winner from the hosts. Dangmei Grace and Indumathi Kathiresan were the goal scorers for India that evening.
Squad for Women’s Olympics Qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Sowmiya Narayansamy, Shreya Hooda and Elangbam Panthoi.
Defenders: Ashalata Devi, Sweety Devi, Ritu Rani, Ranjana Chanu, Michel Castanha, Dalima Chhibber, Manisa Panna and Juli Kishan.
Midfielders: Shilky Devi Hemam, Anju Tamang, Indumathi Kathiresan, Sangita Basfore and Karthika Angamuthu.
Forwards: Grace Dangmei, Soumya Guguloth, Renu, Karishma Shirvoikar, Sandhiya Ranganathan and Apurna Narzary.
Head Coach: Thomas Dennerby
Thomas Dennerby has retained most of his squad from the friendlies in Jordan and Uzbekistan with the addition of Soumya Gouloth after finishing her club commitments with Dinamo Zagreb. However, Manisha Kalyan will not be able to join the squad after recently winning the 2022/23 Cypriot Women’s League with the Apollon Ladies FC going a full season unbeaten.
Fixtures
Tuesday, 4 April 2023
Kyrgyz Republic vs India (08:00 PM)
Friday, 7 April 2023
India vs Kyrgyz Republic (08:00 PM)
The Blue Tigresses will reach the Kyrgyz Republic from Uzbekistan to play the double headers against them. The first match is on April 4, 2023, while the next one is three days later on 7 April 2023. All the games will be played at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek. Kyrgyz Republic are ranked well below India taking the 123rd spot in the FIFA rankings. India are currently ranked 61st in the rankings and will be favourites to progress to the next round of the Women’s Olympics Qualifiers. Turkmenistan were also drawn in the group but they withdrew from the competition.
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