Shillong, Mar 18: Ribahunshisha Kharshiing has been included in a 20-member Indian squad that will take part in the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship, which will be held in Dhaka from Monday.
The Indian U-17 team, led by coach PV Priya, has been training in Indore in preparation for this international tournament for the past two months.
They also played two friendlies away against Jordan in February, winning both emphatically, 7-0 and 6-0. Kharshiing had also been selected for that short tour.
The SAFF tournament will be played in a single game round-robin format with five teams participating – India, hosts Bangladesh, defending champions Nepal, Bhutan and Russia.
India will play the opener against defending champions Nepal on Monday.
Kharshiing is an academy product of Kick Start Football Coaching Centre who joined Bhaichung Bhutia Football Academy in Nashik last year. A midfielder, she represented Meghalaya last year in the Junior Girls National Football Championship and also played for Laitkor in the Shillong Sports Association’s inaugural Women’s League 2022. Her team finished as runners-up and she scored eight of their 13 goals.
Indian U-17 women’s squad:
Goalkeepers: Anisha Oraon, Khushi Kumari, Shreya Sharma
Defenders: Heena Khatun, Thoi Thoi Devi Yendrenbam, Juhi Singh, Akhila Rajan, Vikshit Bara, Nishima Kumari, Thoibisana Chanu Toijam
Midfielders: Menaka Devi Lourembam, Shilji Shaji, Babita Kumari, Shaulina Dang, Shivani Toppo, Shibani Devi Nongmeikapam, Lalita Boypai, Ribahunshisha Kharshiing
Forwards: Pooja, Cindy Remruatpuii Colney
India fixtures (all times IST):
vs Nepal, 2:45PM, 20th March
vs Bangladesh, 6:45PM, 24th March
vs Bhutan, 2:45PM, 26th March
vs Russia, 6:45PM, 28th March
(TSR file photo)
