Head coach Thomas Dennerby announced the final list of players for the Indian women’s national team for the Asian Games 2023. The Blue Tigresses are placed in Group B along with two higher-ranked oppositions in Chinese Taipei (38) and Thailand (46). India are ranked 61st after the present rankings. A total of 17 teams are competing in the Asiad Women’s Football Competition this term, divided into five groups. The five group winners and three best second-placed teams will qualify for the quarter-finals. The event will be hosted in Hangzhou, China, from September 19 to October 7, 2023.
India are participating in the Asian Games after 2014 having got clearance from the Sports Ministry. The initial decision of not sending the Men’s and Women’s national teams to the tournament was reconsidered upon request from fans, coach and AIFF. Hence, the criteria of allowing only the top eight teams from Asia in the competition was relaxed. The Indian squad received approval from the Asian Games organisers and the Olympic Council of Asia to compete.
Unlike the men’s side, the the women’s national team participated in the Asian Games only twice before in Bangkok 1998 and last ever participation in Incheon 2014. In both cases, the Blue Tigresses' run ended in group stages with the only victory in the tournament coming against Maldives, a huge 15-0 win nine years ago.
India's Women’s Team Asian Games Squad
Goalkeepers: Shreya Hooda, Sowmiya Narayanasamy, Panthoi Chanu
Defenders: Ashalata Devi, Sweety Devi, Ritu Rani, Dalima Chhibber, Astam Oraon, Sanju, Ranjana Chanu
Midfielders: Sangita Basfore, Priyangka Devi, Indumathi Kathiresan, Anju Tamang, Soumya Guguloth, Dangmei Grace
Forwards: Pyari Xaxa, Jyoti Chauhan, Renu, Bala Devi, Manisha Kalyan, Sandhiya Ranganathan
Head Coach: Thomas Dennerby
The women’s football tournament allows the senior teams to compete with no age restrictions. India have also gone with their fully strengthened squad. The front line particularly looks staked spearheaded by record-scorer Bala Devi back from injury and ever-present Manisha Kalyan. Adding to the heroics of the latter in abroad, Jyoti Chauhan created history by becoming the first Indian professional player to score a hat-trick for a European club. She will be on the roster as well after extending the contract with her club Dinamo Zagreb. Voted best player of the Indian Women’s League, Indumathi Kathiresan will bring creativity from midfield partnering with Anju Tamang, Soumya Guguloth and Dangmei Grace. Captain for the Indian team in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup last year, Astam Oraon has the chance now to make her senior team debut in the Asian Games. First choice keeper Aditi Chauhun misses out through injury.
However, there are few names who could have got the nod in the national team squad. One of them is IWL top-scorer Kajol d’Souza. Also played in the U17 World Cup hosted by the country, she has been a consistent performer at the junior levels. The same goes for midfielder Shilky Devi of IWL winners Gokulam Kerala FC. The issue for the team though lies off-filed. The Blue Tigresses have been without action for the last three months, not utilising the last FIFA international window. All this time, the federation was searching for a head coach after Dennerby’s contract expired in March 2023. Finally, the Swede put pen to paper again last month and will be carrying the team without any preparation for the tournament.
