Nepal: India to take on Maldives in 5th SAFF Women’s Championship

Defending champion India will take on the Maldives in the fifth South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship in Biratnagar, Nepal today. In the six-team competition, India has been drawn in Group B alongside the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Host Nepal has been kept in Group A with Bangladesh and Bhutan.

In a short while from now, India will take on Maldives in its first group match. India has wonderful record and remained unbeaten in 19 matches from last four editions of the championship. Coach Maymol Rocky has expressed confidence in her side. At the pre-tournament press conference she said SAFF Championship has been a successful one for India and this time again Indian team will lift the trophy. 

Captain Ashalata Devi said the spirit in the team is high and given that they are the defending champions, opposite teams will be wary of them. 

The tournament is the last opportunity for coach Rocky to fine tune her team for the crucial 2020 Olympic Qualifiers Round 2, which is scheduled to be held in Myanmar from 1st of the next month.

The Hindu