New Delhi, April 7: Crispin Chettri, who returned as the head coach of the Indian women’s football team, has named a 22-member squad for the FIFA Series 2026 tournament in Kenya.
On Saturday, the Technical Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had recommended Chhetri to succeed Costa Rican Amelia Valverde whose brief tenure ended recently.
“Crispin Chettri has been re-appointed as the head coach of the Indian women’s national team. Chettri has named a 22-member squad for the friendly tournament,” the AIFF said in a release.
Chettri was at the helm of affairs during the national team’s qualifying campaign for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup in Australia. The AIFF, appointed Amelia in January to take charge of the team in the continental showpiece which concluded last month with Chhetri being made assistant coach.
With India failing to get past the group stage, losing all their three matches, the AIFF decided against renewing Amelia’s contract which was till the end of the Asian Cup. The IM Vijayan-led technical committee recommended that Indian names be considered to succeed the Costa Rican.The 22-member squad and the support staff reached Nairobi on Tuesday for the four-nation tournament scheduled during the April FIFA International Women’s Match Window.
The Blue Tigresses will take on hosts Kenya in the semi-final on April 11 while Australia and Malawi will play the other semi-final earlier on the same day.
The Squad: Goalkeepers: Adrija Sarkhel, Linthoingambi Devi Maibam, Shreya Hooda.
Defenders: Astam Oraon, Juli Kishan, Martina Thokchom, Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam, Purnima Kumari, Sarita Yumnam.
Midfielders: Aveka Singh, Babina Devi Lisham, Jasoda Munda, Priyadharshini Selladurai, Priyangka Devi Naorem, Sanfida Nongrum, Shilky Devi Hemam.
Forwards: Karishma Shirvoikar, Kaviya Pakkirisamy, Lynda Kom Serto, Malavika P, Pyari Xaxa, Rimpa Haldar. (PTI)
