Head Coach Thomas Dennerby named a 25-member squad of the Blue Tigress leaving for Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 14 October 2023 in preparation for the Women’s Olympics Qualifiers. India are placed in Group C of the Round 2 of the AFC qualifying tournament with the matches being hosted in Uzbekistan. After finishing their training campaign and playing some friendlies in the Middle Eastern nation, the team will fly to the destination on October 23, 2023.
The senior women’s team will lock horns with some of the best nations in Asia in the Qualifiers, notably against Women’s World Cup quarter finalists Japan in the first game on 26th October 2023. Vietnam and hosts Uzbekistan are the other opponents in their group. The group winners and the best-ranked second-placed team from the Round 2 of the AFC qualifiers will progress to the next stage.
The friendlies the Blue Tigress will play in Saudi Arabia will be the first since March when they were preparing for the Round 1 qualifiers of the Olympics. After being out of action for four months, Dennerby’s girls traveled to China in September for the Asian Games. Despite putting up a solid performance against higher-ranked opposition, they finished bottom of their group after losing to Chinese Taipei and Thailand. The team will go for the tour with competitive games under their belt.
India Squad for Saudi Arabia tour
Goalkeepers: Sowmiya Narayanasamy, Shreya Hooda, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, Anisha
Defenders: Ashalata Devi Loitongbam, Sweety Devi Ngangbam, Ritu Rani, Ranjana Chanu Sorokhaibam, Dalima Chhibber, Manisa Panna, Shilky Devi Hemam, Juli Kishan, Astam Oraon
Midfielders: Priyangka Devi Naorem, Anju Tamang, Indumathi Kathiresan, Sangita Basfore, Aveka Singh
Forwards: Grace Dangmei, Soumya Guguloth, Renu, Sandhiya Ranganathan, Bala Devi Ngangom, Sanju, Pyari Xaxa
Head coach: Thomas Dennerby
Most of the players in the Asian Games squad are retained except for left-back Sanju and stars in the foreign league, Manisha Kalyan and Jyoti Chauhan due to their club duties. Soumya Guguloth also misses out as is goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan still battling her injury. Aveka Singh, playing in California for UC Irvine, earns her first senior national team call-up.
You can also check out Indian Football events to watch in October
