India-W All Set To Host Russia-W At Kolkata
After the Indian men’s team finished their historic international break, playing against the likes of Panama, Brazil and Uruguay, the women’s national team is now all set to host the Russian women’s team twice on 8th and 11th October at Kishore Bharati Krirangan, which too is nothing less than historic.
India W, currently ranked 69th in the World, will play their first game since the SAFF Women’s championship triumph back in June of this year. This will also be the first time Kolkata, the Mecca of Indian football, will be hosting an international match for the women’s team. The squad carries a different look from the one that faced Russia at the Pink Ladies Cup last year. Chettri said its average age is 23, with the youngest players aged 19, and several have progressed from the U20 setup.
Preparations, however, have faced complications. Head coach Crispin Chettri said East Bengal’s commitments towards their AFC Women’s Champions League campaign and the Indian Women’s League had affected the availability of players he wanted for the longer camp. India will proceed with the group that has trained together, with the coach urging clubs to support the national team. However he sees the absence as a door that opened up. “Maybe this could be a blessing for the upcoming players to show their character,” he said. “And I think there is nothing to lose for us, but to show character and give our best for the country.”
Chettri said that if the team has to do well in the Asian Cup, then they must start building right now. Russia have won both previous meetings, scoring 10 goals without conceding. They won 8-0 in 2021 where Tatiana Morina, Margarita Chernomyrdina and Nelli Korovkina scored a brace and the other two were netted by Veronika Kuropatkina and Ksenia Tsybutovich. That win was followed by a 2-0 win in Sharjah on February 23, 2025, when Glafira Zhukova and Valentina Smirnova scored.
For Russia head coach Yuri Krasnozhan, the previous results offer no guarantees. “The previous game is history, it’s just statistics. Every new game is a new challenge for both teams,” he said. “We are preparing to get the win in this game.” Krasnozhan also acknowledged India’s progress, referring to Russia’s experience against both the senior side and the Indian U17 team.
The visitors have had limited time to settle in. Having arrived on Tuesday evening, their first training session is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Defender Veronika Kuropatkina, however, believes the ongoing Russian club season has helped the players arrive in good physical condition. “We know the opponent, not just from the video, but we played last year against India,” she said.
Amongst all this, Indian head coach Crispin Chettri hopes the occasion will bring both a demanding football examination and the support his players deserve. “I want them to come in loads and support our own team. They deserve that at least,” Chettri said at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference. “So I think it’s time for Kolkata to show that we really care about football irrespective of gender.” However, due to the final of prestigious IFA Shield being scheduled on the same day at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, that too being a Kolkata Derby, there is not much of a hope for a great amount of spectators.
India’s 24-player squad for the October FIFA women’s international friendlies:
Goalkeepers: Adrija Sarkhel, Monalisha Devi Moirangthem, Nandini
Defenders: Dhurga Perumal, Juli Kishan, Kiran Pisda, Malati Munda, Mousumi Murmu, Purnima Kumari, Ranjana Chanu Sorokhaibam, Shubhangi Singh
Midfielders: Babina Devi Lisham, Baby Sana, Cindy Colney, Priyadharshini Selladurai, Sanfida Nongrum, Sangita Basfore, Santosh
Forwards: Jasoda Munda, Lynda Kom Serto, Malavika P, Renu, Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam, Sushmita Jadhav
Head Coach: Crispin Chettri
Indian women’s national team’s schedule:
October 8: India vs Russia
October 11: India vs Russia
Venue: Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata