Indian women’s team to play four-nation series

Iran, Myanmar and Nepal will be the other participants in a tourney that begins on February 9.

The Indian team plays Iran in its first match, on February 9.

The Indian women’s football team will participate in a four-nation series, the Hero Gold Cup, at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, alongside neighbours Nepal and Myanmar, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The tourney, organised by the AIFF in association with the Government of Odisha, will be held from February 9 to February 15. This will be the first such event in India for the women’s national team.

Commenting on the tournament, Kushal Das, AIFF general secretary, said, “The primary objective is to provide the best of exposure to the women’s team as they prepare for the second round of the Olympic Qualifiers in April.”

'Ready'

Vishal Kumar Dev, commissioner-cum-secretary, Sports and Youth Department of the Government of Odisha, said, “It was a pleasure that AIFF came forward with the proposal for the Women’s Gold Cup. Odisha’s commitment towards sports, and especially promotion of women’s football, is well-known. Having hosted a successful Hockey World Cup, the Kalinga Stadium stands ready to welcome the women’s teams for the four-nation Gold Cup.”

• February 9: Myanmar vs Nepal (4pm), India vs IR Iran (7pm).
• February 11: Myanmar vs IR Iran (4pm), India vs Nepal (7pm).
• February 13: IR Iran vs Nepal (4pm), India vs Myanmar (7pm).
• February 15: FINAL.