Odisha players Manisa Panna and Pyari Xaxa have been selected again in the Indian Women Football Team for two friendlies in Sweden this month. The Odisha duo was also part of the Indian team that played four friendlies earlier this month in UAE and Bahrain.

The international friendlies are part of their preparation for the AFC Women Asian Cup, scheduled to be held next year. The 23-member Indian team will travel to Sweden, where it will face Swedish Women Premier League sides Hammarby IF and Djurgården IF on October 20 and 23 respectively.

Out of their four friendlies in in UAE and Bahrain, Indian women won three and lost one. They beat UAE 4-1, Bahrain 5-0, Chinese Taipei 1-0 and lost to Tunisia 0-1. According to Thomas Dennerby, the head coach of the Indian team, both friendlies in Sweden will be challenging.

SENIOR INDIA WOMEN FOOTBALL TEAM: Goalkeepers: Aditi Chauhan, Maibam Linthoingambi Devi, Shreya Hooda. Defenders: Dalima Chhibber, Sweety Devi, Ritu Rani, Ashalata Devi, Ranjana Chanu, Michel Castanha, Manisa Panna, Astam Oraon. Midfielders: Sangita Basfore, Indumathi Kathiresan, Sanju, Martina Thokchom. Forwards: Dangmei Grace, Anju Tamang, Sandhiya Ranganathan, Soumya Guguloth, Manisha Kalyan, Sumati Kumari, Pyari Xaxa, Renu. Head Coach: Thomas Dennerby.
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PHOTO: Odisha woman football internationals Manisa Panna (Left) and Pyari Xaxa in Indian jersey.