Are the India U20 Women Ready for Their Friendly Match Against Uzbekistan?

New Delhi, July 12 (NationPress) The Indian U20 women's team has officially arrived in Tashkent, gearing up to compete in two friendly matches against the Uzbekistan U20 squad. The first match is set to take place on Sunday at the Do'stlik Stadium. The Young Tigresses, who had been honing their skills at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, touched down in the Uzbek capital on Friday morning and engaged in a gym workout that evening. On Saturday evening, they held their formal training session in preparation for their inaugural game.

These matches offer an opportunity to gauge our readiness for the Asian qualifiers. Additionally, we aim to evaluate how each player performs their designated roles, particularly as we inch closer to finalizing our squad for the qualifiers. These encounters also provide invaluable experience, both on the field and in adapting to different environments. The weather in Tashkent has been quite similar to Bengaluru, so we have encountered no issues in that regard. Accommodations and food have also met our expectations.

The India U20 women traveled with a squad of 24 players, with a last-minute adjustment as Anika Devi Sharubam stepped in for goalkeeper Melody Chanu Keisham, who was unable to travel due to illness.

Uzbekistan's squad, directed by head coach Vladimir Panov, is also in preparation mode as they host Group G of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, where they will face Bahrain, Northern Mariana Islands, and Jordan. Notably, Uzbekistan previously hosted the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2024 but unfortunately finished at the bottom of Group A after losing all their matches.

The Uzbekistan U20 squad for these friendlies comprises 23 players, including four who traveled to Bengaluru in May with the senior team for two FIFA friendlies against India.

India has two players—goalkeeper Monalisha Devi Moirangthem and defender Shubhangi Singh—who were part of the two matchday rosters against the Uzbekistan senior team, where the Blue Tigresses faced narrow defeats of 0-1 in both matches.

Reflecting on the competition, coach Alexandersson remarked, "They are a very physical team, particularly their strikers. They tend to play a direct style with minimal risk, often pressing high and looking to exploit the space behind defenders rapidly. We must be prepared for all of that."

The Indian senior team and the U20 squad have been utilizing the same training facilities in Bengaluru, both prepping for their respective Asian qualifiers. They recently played a practice match against each other, with some U20 players also training alongside the senior team during the camp.

While the Blue Tigresses successfully qualified for the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Thailand, it is now the responsibility of the Young Tigresses to strive for similar success.

"Training in Bengaluru has been productive. We have undergone numerous strength and conditioning sessions and have seen significant physical improvements. We also played a practice match against the senior team before they departed for Thailand," he noted.

"That experience was incredibly motivational for the girls, boosting their confidence ahead of these upcoming matches. Some players weren’t fit enough to travel to Uzbekistan and have remained in Bengaluru. After these friendlies, we will finalize our squad for the qualifiers," Alexandersson concluded.