SQUAD GAME: The Indian Women’s Football Team for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022

Head Coach Thomas Dennerby has released a list of 23 players who will be participating in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 scheduled to be held between January 20 and February 6 in India. The Blue Tigresses will take on Iran, Chinese Taipei, and China in the tournament’s group stages.

KNOW YOUR TEAM

Aditi Chauhan

Age: 29

International Caps: 49

Current Club: Gokulam Kerala FC

Being India’s first-choice keeper, Aditi possesses great shot-stopping and ball distribution skills. She has the experience of playing in many high profile tournaments worldwide. She was also part of the winning team at the SAFF Women’s Championship in 2016 and 2019 and the South Asian Games in 2016 and 2019. In her last 10 games, she has kept 4 clean sheets.

Maibam Linthoingambi Devi

Age: 22

International Caps: 5

Current Team: KRYPHSA FC

In the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers 2020, Maibam kept a clean-sheet against Indonesia where India won 2-0. She has also been named as the best goalkeeper of the tournament in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) for two consecutive years, 2019 and 2020.

Sowmiya Narayanasamy

Age: 21

International caps: 1

Current Club: Sethu FC

On her debut for India, she kept a clean sheet against Maldives at the SAFF Women’s Championship 2019 as India won 6-0. Her physicality and vigilance make her a reliable goalkeeper.

Dalima Chhibber

Age: 24

International caps: 29

Current Club: Gokulam Kerala FC

Dalima has 2 international goals to her name, is a full-back who is good at closing down opposition forwards. She can also be utilised as a zonal marker, and her set-piece deliveries are on point.

Sweety Devi

Age: 22

International caps: 26

Current Club: KRYPHSA FC

Sweety Devi plays as a centre-back, and her strengths are her physicality, winning the ball through tackles and also contributing to the team’s build play. She is an important part of India’s backline.

Ritu Rani

Age: 24

International caps: 2

Current Club: Gokulam Kerala

One of the experienced defenders in the team, Ritu, was a member of the winning squad at the XIII South Asian Games 2019. She was ruled out of the National Team with a long-term injury and is making her comeback now. She is known for her long-range passes.

Ashalata Devi

Age: 28

International caps: 64

Current Club: KRYPHSA FC

The team captain, Ashalata, is the first centre back to win the AIFF Women’s Player of the Year. She is a defender who commands the backline, reads the game well and has excellent ball control.

Manisa Panna

Age: 30

International caps: 15

Current Club: Gokulam Kerala

Manisa is an experienced player who was also a part of the 2016 SAFF Women’s Championship winning team. She is good in 1v1 situations, is calm on the ball and is a backup for Ashalata Devi and Sweety Devi. She can also play as a third centre-back in a 5 woman-backline.

Hemam Shilky Devi

Age: 16

International caps: 2

Current Club: The Young Welfare Club

After displaying top performances at the SAFF Championships and debuting against Brazil, 16-year-old Shilky Devi is back in the National Team for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. She recently led the Indian team as the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship captain. She also won the Most Promising Player at the U-17 Women’s Football Tournament 2018 Bhutan.

Sanju

Age: 24

International caps: 33

Current Club: Gokulam Kerala

Sanju is the midfield maestro who is also versatile enough to play as a left-wing-back. She is good at dictating the game, and her effective passes help break defensive lines of the opposition.

Yumnam Kamala Devi

Age: 29

International caps: 51

Current Club: Gokulam Kerala

One of the senior team members in the squad, Kamala’s achievements and experience have played an essential role in the team’s performance over the years. Even though her natural position is that of an attacking midfielder, her goalscoring skills are also top-notch. Kamala is again ready to prove why she is one of the finest players ever to turn up for the national team.

Anju Tamang

Age: 25

International caps: 28

Current Club: KRYPHSA FC

Anju came into the limelight when she scored the fastest goal in the IWL 2018-19. She has good ball progression skills, is sharp while taking corners and is composed on the ball. She has 2 goals to her name: the first one against Iran during Hero Gold Cup 2019, and the other against UAE at the international friendlies conducted in Dubai 2021.

Karthika Angamuthu

Age: 22

International caps: 1

Current Club: Sethu FC

Karthika made her debut for the senior team against Venezuela at the four nations tournament in Brazil. She also captained Tamil Nadu to reach the semi-finals of the 2019-20 Hero Senior Women’s National Football Championship.

Ratanbala Devi

Age: 22

International caps: 29

Current Club: Sethu FC

Ratanbala Devi, who has 14 goals to her name, looks ready to make her on-field return for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after a break from a long-term injury. She is an attacking midfielder known for her creativity, vision and passing prowess.

Naorem Priyangka Devi

Age: 18

International caps: Debut

Current Club: Eastern Sporting Union

After her impressive performances at the SAFF U-19 Championship 2021, Priyangka Devi hopes to debut for the senior team at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. She was also awarded the Most Valuable Player at the SAFF U-15 Championship 2018, where India emerged as champion.

Indumathi Kathiresan

Age: 27

International caps: 40

Current Club: Sethu FC

Indumathi is a goalscoring midfielder who is good with her ball distribution, coordination and link-up play. She was a part of the winning team at the 2016 SAFF Women’s Championship. She was also the top scorer at the 2019 SAFF Women’s Championship.

Grace Dangmei

Age: 25

International caps: 43

Current Club: Gokulam Kerala

Dangmei is a forward who is capable of playing as a winger or a striker. She can provide crosses, score goals and suits the team well while playing physically demanding opposition.

Manisha Kalyan

Age: 20

International caps: 15

Current Club: Gokulam Kerala

After writing history with that goal against Brazil, Manisha has captured the attention of every football fan in India. She has proven herself to be a sharp and adaptive player in the squad who can fit in as a creative midfielder and also as a striker.

Pyari Xaxa

Age: 24

International caps: 8

Current Club: Rising Student Club

Pyari hails from Jhartarang, Odisha, where she started her football career. She debuted for the senior team in 2015 and has scored 4 goals to her name. She plays as a pacey striker, and with her physique, she is a nightmare to the opposite team’s defence. She was also a part of the winning squad at the South Asian Games 2016.

Renu

Age: 20

International caps: 2

Current Club: Kickstart FC

She is well known for her goal against the higher-ranked Chinese Taipei, which gave India a 1-0 win in October 2021. She also scored a hattrick against Malaysia at AFC U-16 Qualifiers 2016. Her performance at the AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers was noteworthy, where she scored 5 goals against Pakistan. With her chance creation and poaching abilities, she can link up with the midfield to break down defences.

Sumati Kumari

Age: 17

International caps: 1

Current Team: Jharkhand

This dynamic striker debuted for the senior team in the game against Tunisia in 2021. She also was a part of the team that finished second in the U-17 Women’s Football Tournament 2019 in Mumbai. One of her most impressive performances was at the Hero Junior Girls’ National Football Championship, where she scored 8 goals against Uttar Pradesh.

Sandhiya Ranganathan

Age: 25

International caps: 10

Current Club: Sethu FC

With 10 appearances, Sandhiya has scored 8 goals for the Indian team. She is a fluid, goalscoring midfielder with an ability to lead the press and direct the game’s tempo.

Mariyammal Balamurugan

Age: 18

International caps: 2

Current Club: Sethu FC

Mariyammal debuted for the senior team against Brazil in December 2021. She has significant experience at the Youth National Team level, having played for the U-17 and U-19 teams.

While players like Bala Devi and Sangita Basfore will be a huge miss for the team because of significant injuries, young players who have recently debuted for the senior team and played SAFF Championships can be seen in the team sheet. Youngsters like Sumati Kumari, Priyangka Devi, and Mariyammal will be the ones to watch out for. Shilky Devi will be the youngest player in the whole tournament.