Bala Devi makes a comeback as AIFF call up 30 girls for Senior Women’s Team camp

After a sensational Hero IWL season, where she ended the league with 26 goals, 11 more than 2nd placed Sabrita Bhandari, Bala Devi storms her way back into national team setup.

National Women’s Senior National Team coach Maymol Rocky summoned 30 probables for a preparatory camp scheduled to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi from July 1-19, 2019.

The camp is in preparation for Indian Women’s National Team’s participation for the forthcoming COTIF Tournament in Spain, and also the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 Qualifiers.

Bala Devi makes a comeback in to the national team fold after a gap of seven months. The Manipur Police striker was earlier dropped from the national team setup after she, along with 6 other players, boycotted the national team camp over differences with coach Maymol Rocky and assistant Choaba Devi back in the month of November, 2018. A sensational performances in Hero IWL with her team Manipur Police SC which finished runners up has pushed her way back to the team. However, none of the other six revolting players including Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, defenders Ranjibala Devi and Umapati Devi, all of whom played for Manipur Police SC too, have been ignored.

Since the late last year’s revolt, the team has went on to participate in number of games including friendlies against Hong Kong, Indonesia and Hero Gold Cup, where they faced Iran, Myanmar and Nepal, as a preparation for the Olympics 2020 Qualifiers 2nd round campaign. In the qualifiers, India Women’s National Team dished out a competitive display only to bow out on goal difference to hosts Myanmar. India registered two back-to-back wins against Indonesia and Nepal, before stealing a 3-3 stalemate against Myanmar.

The 30-member list of probables is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Linthoingambi Devi, Aditi Chauhan, Sowmiya Narayansamy, Crystal Pinto, Archana A.

DEFENDERS: Ashalata Devi, Sweety Devi, Jabamani Tudu, Dalima Chhibber, Lako Phuti, Michel M Castanha, Yumlembam Papki Devi, Samiksha, Komal Kumari.

MIDFIELDERS: Sangita Basfore, Sanju, Sumithra Kamaraj, Indumathi Kathiresan, Ranjana Chanu, Manisha, Ritu Rani, Ratanbala Devi.

FORWARDS: Anju Tamang, Bala Devi, Dangmei Grace, Anushka Samuel, Renu, Daya Devi, Roja Devi, Sandhiya Ranganathan.

HEAD COACH: Maymol Rocky.

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