South Asian Games women’s football fixtures released
SHILLONG: The Indian women’s national football team has been clubbed with Afghanistan and Bangladesh for the 12th South Asian Games women’s football event, which will be held here from February 7-15.
All the matches will be played at the revamped Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Polo, here, with half of the games to be played under floodlights. The stadium has been host to matches of the I-League, as well as the regional T Ao Memorial Football Tournament and this will be its biggest stage thus far. Defending champions India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh make up Group A, while Group B comprises Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Women’s football was introduced at the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2010. India took the gold medal, having beaten Nepal in the final. Bangladesh claimed the bronze.
The first match of this year’s tournament will be between Group B’s Maldives and Sri Lanka at 2:00pm on February 7, followed India’s opener at 7:00pm against Afghanistan. The semi-finals are scheduled for February 13, followed by the third-place playoff and grand final on February 15.
The Indian women’s team will have a preparatory camp for the forthcoming Games in Shillong from January 17 to February 3. 32 players have been shortlisted for the camp, which will be overseen by national coach Sajid Dar.