By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Nepal National Women’s Football team Defender Puja Rana is likely to miss the SAFF Championship due to an injury sustained during training.
She caught an injury on her left leg when she collided with the goalkeeper during training on Sunday. According to initial tests, doctors suspected that her leg got fractured. More details about the injury will be known tomorrow after undergoing further tests. Considering the nature of the injury, there is a possibility that she will miss SAFF Women’s Championship to be held in Dashrat Ranagasala next month.
Puja marked her debut in the National team on 2019 playing in the SAFF Championship in Biratnagar after which she has never looked back. She has been playing as the first choice of the Nepal Police Football Club. She also captained Nepal in the age group in 2015 where she led the U-14 team to the final while playing at the Dasharath Stadium.
35 players are currently vying to book their spot in the final squad for the SAFF Championship. The sixth edition of the SAFF Championship will begin from September 6 to 19, 2022 at Dashrath Stadium in Tripureshwor. Nepal, who were drawn in group A along with Bhutan and Sri Lanka will face Bhutan in the opening match of the championship on 6th September at 5:30 PM NST. Moreover, Nepal will play its second and final group stage match against Sri Lanka on 12th September.
Two matches in Group B will take place on the second day. On the third day, Sri Lanka and Bhutan from Group A will compete. The top two teams from both groups will qualify for the semi-finals. Both the semi-finals matches will be played on 16th September. Furthermore, the winners of the semi-final matches will vie for the trophy on 19th September.
Along with the host Nepal, the seven countries of South Asia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, and Bhutan are participating in the championship.
ANFA has appointed Kumar Thapa as the head coach and Bindra Dewan has been given the responsibility of team manager of the Nepal National Women’s team.
Nepal’s 35-member squad:
Goalkeepers: Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Anjana Rana Magar, Usha Nath, Kabita Bk
Defenders: Hira Kumari Bhujel, Srijana Singh Thakuri, Ganga Gurung, Amrita Jaishi, Gita Rana, Puja Rana, Poonam Jargha Magar, Nisha Thokar, Srijana Chemjong, Bimala Bk, Samiksha Ghimire
Midfielders: Bimala Chaudhary, Manjali Kumari Yonjan, Sabita Rana Magar, Preeti Rai, Saru Limbu, Deepa Rai, Deepa Shahi, Indira Rai, Saraswati Ayer, Anita Basnet, Hima Chaudhary, Kusum Khatiwada
Forwards: Sabitra Bhandari, Amisha Karki, Rekha Paudel, Anita KC, Rashmi Kumari Ghising, Rajani Thokar, Nirmala Bk, Chandra Bhandari
