Did Sunil Chhetri Make a Surprise Visit to the Women's National Camp?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sunil Chhetri's support boosts the morale of the women's national team.
- The women's team has a strong roster with many young talents.
- Upcoming international friendlies will help prepare the team for the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers.
- Team camaraderie is vital for success in upcoming competitions.
- Chhetri's visit underlines the importance of unity in Indian football.
Bengaluru, May 18 (NationPress) The captain of the senior men’s national football team, Sunil Chhetri, recently made an appearance at the women’s national camp where the team graciously gifted him an India kit adorned with the signatures of all the players.
Chhetri shared encouraging insights with the women’s squad as they gear up for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, scheduled for next month. The senior women's national team, under the guidance of Crispin Chettri, is currently honing their skills at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. They are set to compete in two FIFA Women’s International Friendlies against Uzbekistan on May 29 and June 3, right in the city.
This visit was not Chhetri's first to the women’s team, but he was pleasantly surprised by the influx of new talent at the camp.
“It was an amazing experience. There aren’t too many familiar faces from my last visit, which just shows how time flies. The camp is filled with youthful energy, and I received excellent feedback from the head coach about the new players,” Chhetri remarked.
“Everyone appeared joyful and enthusiastic. With some exciting friendlies against Uzbekistan and then the Asian Cup Qualifiers on the horizon, I wish them all the best. My only hope is for them to enjoy their training and build a strong bond,” he added.
The Indian women's team, placed in Group B, will kick off their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifying journey on June 23 against Mongolia in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They will follow up with matches against Timor-Leste (June 29), Iraq (July 2), and the hosts Thailand (July 5).
Chhetri, recognized as India’s top goalscorer, returned from international retirement in March to participate in an international friendly against the Maldives (March 19), followed by the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh (March 25).