Women’s football: National coach Thomas Dennerby picks 23-member squad for UAE, Bahrain friendlies

New Delhi, Sep 27 (PTI): Indian women’s football team chief coach Thomas Dennerby has named a 23-member squad for the upcoming friendly matches in the UAE and Bahrain.

The team, which is currently camping in Jamshedpur, will travel to the UAE for two friendly matches against the United Arab Emirates on 2 October and the Tunisia national team two days later.

The squad will then head to Bahrain, where they will play two friendlies against the country’s national team on 10 October and the Chinese Taipei national team on 13 October.

Dennerby said, “After training for about a month in Jharkhand, we are extremely happy to be going for these friendly matches in the UAE and Bahrain.

“These matches will be essential for us to gauge how far the girls have progressed during the training camp, as they will be pitted against some tough teams.

“We are all looking forward to these matches, and are thankful to the authorities for arranging them during such difficult circumstances in a pandemic.”

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Aditi Chauhan, Maibam Linthoingambi Devi, Shreya Hooda.

Defenders: Dalima Chhibber, Sweety Devi, Ritu Rani, Ashalata Devi, Ranjana Chanu, Michel Castanha, Manisa Panna, Astam Oraon.

Midfielders: Sangita Basfore, Indumathi Kathiresan, Sanju, Martina Thokchom.

Forwards: Dangmei Grace, Anju Tamang, Sandhiya Ranganathan, Soumya Guguloth, Manisha Kalyan, Sumati Kumari, Pyari Xaxa, Renu.