Indian Women's Team Set for Second Friendly Against Maldives Following Strong Victory

The Indian senior women's football team is gearing up for their opening match of 2025 against the Maldives, scheduled for January 2 at the Padukone - Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. This friendly follows a substantial 14-0 victory over Maldives on December 30, leading to coach Joakim Alexandersson making several modifications to the lineup. To infuse fresh talent into the team, he has replaced six players in the squad of 23, specifically dropping five who played in the initial match. Among those released were top scorers Lynda Kom Serto and Pyari Xaxa, who netted four and three goals, respectively.

The new additions to the team come from an Under-20 camp that started on December 10. Monisha Singha, Anusha Mandala, Thingbaijam Sanjita Devi, Khumukcham Bhumika Chanu, and Tamanna have been brought in to gain valuable experience as they represent the senior squad for the first time. In addition, goalkeeper Nandini will be replaced by Ribansi Jamu.

Alexandersson explained that the reasoning behind these squad changes stems from the team's overwhelming performance in the previous match. He emphasized the importance of providing the Under-20 players with the chance to shine on the national stage. There is a keen eagerness among these young players, which has been evident during their training sessions.

Alexandersson noted the necessity of addressing even the slightest errors made during the last game, stressing the importance of maintaining focus on defensive work and transition during play. While acknowledging that it could be easy to neglect defensive strategies against weaker opponents, he aims to maintain a high standard and apply the lessons learned in training to the upcoming match.