Dubai, Sep 30 (Agency) Team India senior women squad arrived here on Thursday to play the friendlies in the UAE and Bahrain, which get underway on October 2. The friendlies are part of the team’s preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which is set to take place in India next year. The visiting side will play two friendlies against the United Arab Emirates (October 2) and Tunisia (October 4), before travelling to Bahrain, where they are set to face Bahrain (October 10) and Chinese Taipei (October 13). “The girls are all excited to be getting some match time for our Asian Cup preparation. We have trained hard last month in Jamshedpur, and now we are ready to test ourselves against some tough opponents,” said head coach Thomas Dennerby.
Captain and centre-back Ashalata Devi thanked the authorities for arranging a camp and international matches during such difficult times of a pandemic.”We know the situation is not easy right now, but the way everything has been arranged to help us set up a long term preparation for the Asian Cup is amazing,” said Ashalata Devi. “Right from the camp being organised by the Jharkhand Government with top facilities, to matches scheduled against tough opponents, we have received immense support. All the girls are extremely thankful for that, and we are all putting in all our full effort to be ready for the Asian Cup,” she further stated.