India Prepares for Pink Ladies Cup Showdown Against Jordan
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Synopsis
The Indian women’s football team is preparing for their first match against Jordan in the Pink Ladies Cup 2025. Coach Crispin Chettri emphasizes the team's transitional phase and the importance of support for new players. India aims for success in this tournament to enhance their progress.
Key Takeaways
- India women's national team faces Jordan in Pink Ladies Cup.
- Coach Crispin Chettri highlights the transitional phase of the team.
- Team has a mix of young and experienced players.
- Regular match play in IWL has benefited players' fitness.
- India ranked 13th in Asia, Jordan ranked 14th.
New Delhi, Feb 19 (NationPress) The senior Indian women’s national football team is set to return to the field during the FIFA International Window, preparing to compete against Jordan in the opening match of the Pink Ladies Cup 2025 in Sharjah.
Head coach Crispin Chettri believes that his squad is currently undergoing a transitional phase and is breaking new ground by participating in this tournament as they aim for improvement.
“This is a transitional period for our team, where we have incorporated numerous new players. We are all committed to enduring challenges for the greater benefit of the team. It’s essential to support and uplift these girls, as many of them are overcoming significant hurdles simply by being here. We need to concentrate on the positives at this moment,” stated Chettri.
The Indian contingent arrived in Sharjah on Tuesday, with the match set to commence at the Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium. India will also face Russia and the Korea Republic on February 23 and 26, respectively.
“Jordan has made substantial progress in recent years, but these are games we must win to advance,” remarked Chettri. “We possess a strong blend of young and seasoned players, making this a highly competitive match.”
The India women’s team underwent a 10-day camp in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, prior to heading to Sharjah, where they will conduct two training sessions before their first game. The 44-year-old coach believes that the women’s football scene, particularly the national squad, has greatly benefited from the extension of the Indian Women’s League season.
“Although we had only a 10-day camp before the Pink Ladies Cup, the positive aspect is that the players are already mid-season, so we didn’t have to focus on their fitness,” he explained. “We could directly work on specific tactical strategies and team organization.
Fullback Sanju echoed the coach’s sentiments, stating, “This is something that has greatly benefited us, the players. Regular match play is crucial, and we have been doing that in the IWL. Now that we are part of the national team, we can immediately implement our system instead of dedicating time to fitness. Everyone is in peak physical condition.”
India currently holds the 13th rank in Asia (69th globally), while Jordan is positioned 14th in the continent (74th worldwide). However, Chettri dismissed discussions regarding the teams' ranking differences, choosing to focus on the fact that the Blue Tigresses are in a transitional phase.
The two teams have faced each other in three matches so far, with each side claiming one victory and one draw.
