The India–Nepal women’s international football friendly being played in Gangtok has stirred excitement among fans and players alike, coming close on the heels of the recently concluded Tri-Nation Tournament held in Shillong earlier this week, which featured India, Nepal, and Iran.
Indian women’s team head coach Crispin Chettri said the friendly marks an important step forward as India builds towards the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. “It’s a great moment for all Indian football fans because the dream of playing in the World Cup feels closer than ever. We’ve qualified for the AFC Championship in Australia, where we’ll face strong teams like China and Vietnam. If we prepare well, we can earn points and keep our World Cup hopes alive,” he said.
Chettri added that hosting the match in Sikkim holds emotional value for the sport and the state. “This is the first time the national women’s team is playing in Sikkim, and there’s tremendous enthusiasm. Yes, some players could not join since this match falls outside the FIFA window, but that happens globally. Still, this is a positive start, and we can only move forward from here,” he said.
India has fielded a largely different and better-rested squad for the Sikkim friendly, with several players who did not feature in Shillong joining the line-up in Gangtok. “We had one group of players in Shillong and another already in Gangtok from October 26, so they’ve had adequate rest and preparation time,” said Chettri.
For India’s star striker Anju Tamang, the fixture holds special significance. “It’s an emotional moment to represent India in my home state. Football is deeply loved in Sikkim, and I’m sure the local support will push us to perform our best,” she said.
Nepal’s head coach Nabin Neupane, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction at the opportunity to play in Sikkim but voiced frustration over the scheduling and logistical challenges faced by his team. “People in Sikkim are passionate about football, and it’s great to play here. But the schedule has been very difficult for us. We received confirmation earlier to play on 30 October, but it was preponed to 29 October, and within 24 hours of our match with India in Shillong, we had to prepare to face India again,” Neupane said.
He pointed out that his players were fatigued after travelling from Shillong to Gangtok immediately following the Tri-Nation final. “It’s not easy for the players to recover and perform at their best in such a short time. The travel from Shillong to Sikkim is long and tiring, and it has clearly affected the team’s readiness,” he added, calling it a case of “poor scheduling and mismanagement.”
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Neupane also confirmed that three key players of the Nepal national team were unavailable for the Gangtok friendly due to injuries and travel-related issues, further compounding their difficulties. “Despite that, our team will give its best effort. Most of the players are visiting Sikkim for the first time, and they’re excited to play here, especially since many people in Sikkim share Nepali roots,” he said.
The India–Nepal women’s international football friendly being played in Gangtok has stirred excitement among fans and players alike, coming close on the heels of the recently concluded Tri-Nation Tournament held in Shillong earlier this week, which featured India, Nepal, and Iran.
Indian women’s team head coach Crispin Chettri said the friendly marks an important step forward as India builds towards the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. “It’s a great moment for all Indian football fans because the dream of playing in the World Cup feels closer than ever. We’ve qualified for the AFC Championship in Australia, where we’ll face strong teams like China and Vietnam. If we prepare well, we can earn points and keep our World Cup hopes alive,” he said.
Chettri added that hosting the match in Sikkim holds emotional value for the sport and the state. “This is the first time the national women’s team is playing in Sikkim, and there’s tremendous enthusiasm. Yes, some players could not join since this match falls outside the FIFA window, but that happens globally. Still, this is a positive start, and we can only move forward from here,” he said.
India has fielded a largely different and better-rested squad for the Sikkim friendly, with several players who did not feature in Shillong joining the line-up in Gangtok. “We had one group of players in Shillong and another already in Gangtok from October 26, so they’ve had adequate rest and preparation time,” said Chettri.
For India’s star striker Anju Tamang, the fixture holds special significance. “It’s an emotional moment to represent India in my home state. Football is deeply loved in Sikkim, and I’m sure the local support will push us to perform our best,” she said.
Nepal’s head coach Nabin Neupane, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction at the opportunity to play in Sikkim but voiced frustration over the scheduling and logistical challenges faced by his team. “People in Sikkim are passionate about football, and it’s great to play here. But the schedule has been very difficult for us. We received confirmation earlier to play on 30 October, but it was preponed to 29 October, and within 24 hours of our match with India in Shillong, we had to prepare to face India again,” Neupane said.
He pointed out that his players were fatigued after travelling from Shillong to Gangtok immediately following the Tri-Nation final. “It’s not easy for the players to recover and perform at their best in such a short time. The travel from Shillong to Sikkim is long and tiring, and it has clearly affected the team’s readiness,” he added, calling it a case of “poor scheduling and mismanagement.”
Neupane also confirmed that three key players of the Nepal national team were unavailable for the Gangtok friendly due to injuries and travel-related issues, further compounding their difficulties. “Despite that, our team will give its best effort. Most of the players are visiting Sikkim for the first time, and they’re excited to play here, especially since many people in Sikkim share Nepali roots,” he said.
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