Dhaka – Last time runners-up Bangladesh National Women’s Football team, now in the Nepalese industrial city of Biratnagar, are waiting with excitement and confidence to face four-time champions India in the semifinals of the six-nation SAFF Women’s Championship on Wednesday (March 20) at the Shahid Rangashala in Biratnagar.
The 2nd semifinal between the two neighbours will kick off at 3pm (Bangladesh time) while hosts Nepal will meet Sri Lanka in the first semifinal at 11:15am on the same day at the same venue.
Ahead of the tough semifinal against India, last edition’s runners-up Bangladesh team practiced ightly at the Delhi Public School ground in Biratnagar on Monday
Bangladesh captain cum experienced striker Sabina Khatun said all the players of Bangladesh team are looking forward to the India game with huge excitement and confidence, according to a media release of BFF on Monday.
With some tired legs, some aches and pains, the Bangladesh team made an enjoyable but light training session with some injury concerns over goalkeeper Rupna Chakma and midfielder Monica Chakma, the other players undertook some dynamic stretching exercises, light jogging and light exercises with the ball. Bangladesh team have a good news that their talented forward Kristina Rani Sarkar, who missed the last two matches due to knee injury, will play in the semifinal against India. Earlier, Bangladesh reached the last four stage of the meet as the Group A runners-up losing to hosts Nepal by 0-3 goals in their 2nd match after beating Bhutan by 2-0 goals in the first match while India storm into semifinal as Group B champion with all-win record outplaying the Maldives by 6-0 goals and Sri Lanka by 5-0 goals.
The Himalayan nation and hosts Nepal reached the semifinals as the Group A champions with all-win record beating Bhutan and Bangladesh by 3-0 goals each while Bangladesh a managed semifinal berth as the Group A runners-up eliminating Bhutan by 2-0 goals.
With the shocking defeat on Saturday, Bangladesh senior women’s team failed to beat Nepal playing four matches, conceding 3rd defeat in the SAFF Championship suffering 0-3 defeat in the SAFF semifinal in Cox’s Bazar in 2010, 0-1 goal defeat in the Islamabad SAFF in 2014 apart from 0-3 defeat in Biratnagar.
Bangladesh played out a 1-1 draw against the Himalayan country in the Olympic Qualifiers in Myanmar in November last year.UNB
