Head coach Maymol Rocky on Monday, January 30, 2023, announced the 23-member squad of the Indian U-20 Women’s national team that will travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh, for the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship in February. The team began their training camp in Chennai on January 6, 2023, in preparation for the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship and also for the all-important AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Round 1. The Young Tigresses have also played a couple of practice matches, one of which was against the Senior India Women’s Team in Chennai, last week.
Squad
Goalkeeper: Monalisha Devi, Anshika, Anjali
Defenders: Astam Oraon, Shilky Devi, Kajal, Shubhangi Singh, Purnima Kumari, Varshika, Gladys
Midfielders: Martina Thokchom, Kajol D’Souza, Babina Devi, Nitu Linda, Tania Kanti, Shailja
Forwards: Lynda Kom, Apurna Narzary, Sunita Munda, Sumati Kumari, Neha, Sonali Soren, Anita Kumari
Head Coach: Maymol Rocky
33 players were called for the camp among which 23 were selected for the main roster. The few that have not made it will remain in camp back in Chennai to train with the Senior Team and will join again after the squad returns from the tournament. Most of the players in the squad are girls who competed in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup held in India in October 2022. Under coach Maymol, India won the 2019 SAFF Women’s Championship with an impressive record of winning all four games, scoring 18 goals and conceding just one. The present squad will take inspiration from that triumph under the gaffer to successfully defend the title this time.
Opponents & Fixtures
The tournament will be played in a round-robin format with four nations of the South Asian Football Federation or SAFF participating in it. Hosts Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan will be the opponents of India. The top two sides in the table will progress to the final on 9 February 2023 to crown the champions. All games will be played at single venue in BSSS Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Dhaka
3 February 2023 - India vs Bhutan (15:00)
5 February 2023 - Bangladesh vs India (19:00)
7 February 2023 - India vs Nepal (15:00)
9 February 2023
Final - Table Top Ranked Team vs Table Second Ranked Team (18:00)
