India Aims for SAFF Women's Championship Final Against Bhutan

India Prepares for Semi-Final Clash with Bhutan

Margao (Goa) [India], June 2: The Indian women's football team is set to take on Bhutan in the second semi-final of the SAFF Women’s Championship at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Wednesday. Fans can enjoy free entry to the stadium.

As five-time champions, India enters this knockout match with confidence, having topped Group B with a perfect record. Their campaign kicked off with a stunning 11-0 win against the Maldives, followed by a solid 3-0 victory over the defending champions, Bangladesh.

The team received a significant boost with the return of forward Manisha Kalyan, who joined the squad after being released by her club, Alianza Lima, for the FIFA International Match Window that commenced on June 1.

Defender Shilky Devi Hemam expressed enthusiasm about Manisha's arrival, stating, “Her experience will be invaluable for us in the upcoming matches. She plays for a top club, which will also benefit the team.”

India is favored to win, sitting at 69th in the FIFA rankings, significantly ahead of Bhutan, who are ranked 164th. Historically, India has dominated their encounters, winning both previous matches with a staggering aggregate score of 29-0. The last match between the two teams was in the 2012 SAFF Women’s Championship, where India triumphed 11-0 in Colombo. Prior to that, they achieved an incredible 18-0 victory in Cox’s Bazar, marking it as their largest win in an official international match.

Despite this, head coach Crispin Chettri emphasizes the need for caution. Bhutan has made notable improvements and secured their semi-final spot by finishing second in Group A. After a narrow 1-0 loss to Nepal in their first match, Bhutan rebounded with an impressive 4-0 win over Sri Lanka.

Forward Pema Tshering, who scored a hat-trick against Sri Lanka, will be a key player for India to monitor closely.

Chettri acknowledged Bhutan's development, stating, “We must approach this match with a winning mindset and give our best. Bhutan has improved significantly and plays cohesively as a team, so we need to ensure quick transitions to succeed.”

The coach also noted that his team is building better chemistry, saying, “We are gradually playing more as a unit, which was evident against Bangladesh, although we still have room for improvement. Our finishing has been effective, and the chances we've created reflect our attacking intensity.”

Shilky shared her coach's sentiments, highlighting the team's unity: “Our good performances stem from playing together as a team. We have adapted well to the ground conditions. Bhutan is a strong side that continues to improve, and their familiarity with each other enhances their gameplay.”

The other semi-final will feature Nepal against Bangladesh, kicking off at 16:00 on the same day.