Sports

Nepali women's football team coach Kumar Thapa has unveiled a 23-member squad for the upcoming SAFF Women’s Championship.

The seven-team regional competition kicks off at the Dashrath Stadium on Tuesday with hosts Nepal taking on Bhutan in the opening match.

Coach Thapa on Saturday announced the Nepal's final squad which saw the return of forward Rekha Paudel after a protracted absence of three years since the 2019 SAFF tournament.

Nepal are drawn with Bhutan and Sri Lanka in Group B. Group A comprises five-times defending champions India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Maldives. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.

Group A winners meet Group B runners-up in the first semi-final on September 16 at 13:00pm. Group B winners take on Group A runners-up in the other semi-final the same day at 17:30pm. The final takes place on September 19.

All eyes will be on Nepal's star striker Sarita ‘Samba’ Bhandari who topscored with four goals in the SAFF Championship in 2019. Defender Samikshya Ghimire, 20; mid-fielders Dipa Shahi, 16, and Preeti Rai, 17; and forward Amisha Karki, 16, are players to watch out for during the tournament.

The Nepali team will be looking to lift the trophy this time around after losing 3-1 to India in the 2019 final.

Goalkeepers: Anjila Tumbapo Subba; Anjana Rana Magar; Usha Nath

Defenders: Hira Kumari Bhujel; Amrita Jaishi; Gita Rana; Punam Jargha Magar; Nisha Thokar; Samikshya Ghimire; Bimala BK

Mid-fielders: Bimala Chaudhary; Manjali Kumari Yonjan; Preeti Rai; Saru Limbu; Dipa Rai; Dipa Shahi; Indira Rai; Anita Basnet; Anita KC

Forwards: Amisha Karki; Rekha Poudel; Sabitra Bhandari; Rashmi Kumari Ghising