AIFF Releases India Women’s Team for Olympic Qualifier

AIFF yesterday named the 20 member India Women’s football team for the 1^st round qualifying games for the London Olympic 2012. The two member team will leave for Bangladesh on March 16 where they play Bangladesh on March 18. India is clubbed in group B with the host Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. India plays Uzbekistan on March 22.

Twelve teams, participating in the first round have been divided into three groups with Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei and Myanmar in group A playing their matches in Chinese Taipei (Kaohsiung City) while Group C comprising of Bahrain, Iran, Palestine and Jordan play their first round matches in Jordan (Zerqa City).

Round 2 of the qualification, which takes place in between June 3 to 12, will include the top 2 teams from Group A and C and the winner of Group B. These five teams will play in a one round league format and the winner of this round will ultimately join the elite clubs of Japan, China, DPR Korea, Korea Republic and Australia. These five countries qualify in the final round with a direct bye after their top five finished in the Beijing Olympic Games 2008.

The final round of competition will be played in a one round league format among the six countries and the two best teams will have the onus to bear the Asian flag in London 2012. Host for the second and final round will be selected from the participating nations.

India Women’s Team: Goalkeepers: Sita Sharma (Orissa), Aditi Chauhan (Delhi) Defenders: Ansha (Bihar), K.Rebika Devi (Manipur), Suparva Samal (Orissa), Rashmita Patra (Orissa), Alochana Senapati (Orissa), Tuli Goon (Orissa) Midfielders: Manpreet Kaur (Haryana), Amoolya Kamal (Karnataka), O.Bembem Devi (Manipur), Pinky Bompal Magar (Orissa), Lochana Munda (Manipur), N.Montesori Chanu (Manipur), Swati Rawat (Delhi) , Gayatri Mallick (Orissa) Strikers: T. Tababi Devi (Manipur), N.Bala Devi (Manipur), L. Naobi Chanu (Delhi), Raju Sugnaya (Tamilnadu) Officials: Md. Shahid Jabbar (Coach), Pratima Biswas (Assistant Coach), Chitra Gangadharan (Assistant Coach), Shanta Gopinath (Manager), Sangeeta Sharma (Head of Delegation), Kruti Maroila (Physiotherapist)