A 22-member preliminary squad for the upcoming SAFF Women’s Championship has been announced and the contingent is currently training in Patiala, Punjab.
The final squad of 20 will be travelling to Islamabad in Pakistan for the third edition of the SAFF Women’s Championship of which India are the reigning champions.
Eight countries namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka will be taking part in the tournament inhabited by SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) members only.
India, the highest ranked team in the competition, have also been the most successful team in the tournament winning the crown twice including its inaugural edition in 2010 and the last one in 2012, beating Nepal on both occasions in the final.
INDIA WOMEN’S PRELIMINARY SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Okram Roshni Devi, Anjana Saikia
Defenders
Ashem Romi Devi, Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, Suprava Samal, Gurumayum Radharani Devi, Sumitra Marandi, Thokchom Umapati Devi, Supriya Routray
Midfielders
Yumnam Kamala Devi, Yumlembam Premi Devi, Nameirakpam Montesori Chanu, Oinam Bembem Devi, Lako Phuti Bhutia, Moirangathem Mandakni Devi, Manpreet Kaur, Indumathi Kathiresan
Forwards
Irom Prameshwori Devi, Ngangom Bala Devi, Gita Das, Jyoti Ann Burrett, Michel Margaret Castanha
(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)