India takes on Pakistan in the Group A league tie of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 at the iconic Dasarath Stadium in Kathmandu tomorrow, a stadium that has been the stage for countless memorable sporting moments.
The match will also be a glorious moment in the dazzling career of seasoned Blue Tigresses defender, Ashalata Devi, who will become India’s first woman footballer to play 100 international matches.
Century beckons Ashalata Devi as India arrive for SAFF Women’s Championship in Kathmandu 💯🔝
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Ashalata will clock up a century of international caps when she takes the pitch in the SAFF Championship 2024 group league opener against traditional… pic.twitter.com/n71gf043mf
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 15, 2024
Ashalata is all focused on the game and has set her goals.
“Our first match is against Pakistan, and it’s a crucial one for us. The first game always sets the tone, and if we start strong, we can approach the rest with a bit less pressure”, she said.
“It’s always exciting to face a team like Pakistan. We have a lot of respect for them. They have grown as a unit. Last time, we won against them, but we are not taking them lightly. They are motivated, prepared well and will surely put up a good fight,” felt Ashalata.
“I feel the competition is much stronger this year, with all the teams making significant improvements. Everyone is dreaming of winning the trophy like us. But this year, we are confident we can bring it home,” Asha smiled.
The last meeting between the two sides on September 7, 2022, in the SAFF Women’s Championship at the same venue resulted in a comprehensive 3-0 victory for India.
Never having lost to Pakistan before, India will come into this match as favourites, with a balanced squad having a mixture of young and senior players who have gained international exposure. T
“Every team is giving their best effort. I have watched Pakistan’s recent matches, including the one against Singapore, where they put up a tough fight and narrowly lost 1-0. They have strong physicality and play good football,” said head coach Santosh Kashyap ahead of the clash.
When asked about Ashalata Devi’s milestone, coach Kashyap said, “It’s a great achievement for her as well as for women’s football. I always tell young players to look up to her and how she has maintained herself for such a long time.”
While India holds the advantage in terms of historical success and current FIFA rankings, Pakistan will be aiming to upset the odds and stage a spirited challenge.
With players like Maria Khan leading the charge and Nadia Khan, who will make a comeback after a year from her injury, will definitely be no pushovers.
Skipper Maria Khan is an experienced midfielder, who plies her trade for Saudi Arabian pro side Eastern Flames.
Two other Pakistan players, goalkeeper Rumaysa Khan and striker Isra Khan, play in Canada and the United States, respectively.
Pakistan Head coach Adeel Rizki said, ”I think it will be an interesting match, India have prepared well. It’s a good rivalry. We have done well and have grown a lot from last time. We hope we can perform and have a good game against India tomorrow.”