India U-16 Women’s national team vice-captain Srijana Tamang is confident that the manner of defeat against Iran in the opening match will spur on the team to pull up their socks against Bangladesh in the all important clash at the Bangabandhu Stadium tomorrow (Sunday).

India conceded in the 71st minute after edging Iran by a goal for most part of the match, finally succumbing to a morale drenching defeat after letting in three minutes before the final whistle.

Both goals were scored by Iran substitute Fatemeh Hosseini after Premi Chiru had given India the lead when the match was only 13 minutes old.

But Tamang, who will again be expected to pull the strings in midfield, is not bemoaning the defeat as much as yesterday night.

“It’s true that we were very low yesterday,” she told AIFF Media the day after.

“We just couldn’t match their physical game in the second half. But we have picked up from that. It is our time to hit back now.

“Bangladesh are a good team and there will be huge crowd tomorrow for them. But that will act in our favour as we love playing in front of good crowd, which we don’t get to too often.”

Bangladesh have managed to turn heads by upsetting Jordan 1-0 in the first game before coasting past whipping girls United Arab Emirates (UAE) 6-0.

Srijana continued: “The defeat to Iran will motivate us to win against Bangladesh and the rest of the games too. We know we could have won yesterday.”

Hailing from the district of Jharsuguda in Odisha, Srijana is the only daughter of hr police constable father. He started playing football from the tender age of ten. “In my locality I was the best player from a very young age,” she tells with pride.

“I have always had this knack for football and thus when the opportunity came along I grabbed it with both hands. My parents were very supportive despite financial obligations.

“I have to make them proud.”

It was in 2013 in the AFC U-14 Girls Regional Championship for the South and Central region when Srijana made her India debut.

“It was a dream come true. National Spotters were here in Odisha and they found me good enough. My coach Sarita (Behera) Ma’am helped me groom and I owe a lot to her.”

Srijana, like any other budding footballer, dreams to play for the Indian Senior National Team like her idol India striker Pinky Bompal Magar. But she wants to climb one stair at a time.

“I want to make the U-19 Team now. Pinky di inspires me a lot and like her I want to represent India at the highest level.”

Srijana is a known face in her locality and she loves the fanfare. “People treat me with respect and wished me luck when I was leaving for the camp. It lights up my parents’ faces and that is what makes me most happy.”

For the moment though Srijana wants to ensure her team tastes victory and not let it slip in the last minute like the previous game.

“We have to win tomorrow. It’s a big game and we know the crowd will be jeering us. But we are charged up and we know we can beat them.”

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)