Host India announced its 21-member squad for the FIFA U-17 Womens World Cup 2022, which is all set to be held in the country from October 11 to 30. But no player from Odisha, a strong force in the national circuit, has been able to find a place in the Indian team.

On the other hand, six girls from Jharkhand have been included in the 21-member Indian squad. They are captain Astam Oraon, Nitu Linda, Purnima Kumari, Anita Kumari, Sudha Tirkey and Anjali Munda.

The young Blue Tigresses are grouped with Brazil, Morocco and the United States in Group A. India will open its maiden World Cup campaign against the USA on October 11 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. India will next take on Morocco on October 14 before facing Brazil on October 17.

“India have never played the World Cup before. Everyone wants to play the World Cup, but I can only select the best 21 in the squad,” coach Thomas Dennerby said on the selection of the Indian team.

India will play all its group stage matches at the Kalinga Stadium, while the final of the tournament is set to be played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on October 30.

India was set to host the World Cup in 2020 before the tournament was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. FIFA then awarded India the hosting rights for the 2022 edition.

INDIA U-17 WOMEN TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Monalisha Devi, Melody Chanu, Anjali Munda. Defenders: Astam Oraon, Kajal, Naketa, Purnima Kumari, Varshika, Shilky Devi. Midfielders: Babina Devi, Nitu Linda, Shailja, Shubhangi Singh. Forwards: Anita Kumari, Lynda Kom, Neha, Rejiya Devi, Shelia Devi, Kajol D’souza, Lavanya Upadhyay, Sudha Tirkey. Head Coach: Thomas Dennerby