AIFF Media Team

SHARJAH, UAE: The senior India women’s national team, buoyed by their 2-0 victory against Jordan in the first match of the Pink Ladies Cup 2025, will now take on Russia at the Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium, in Sharjah, UAE, on Sunday, February 23, 2025.

The match will kick off at 8.30 pm IST, and will be streamed live on fanzone.tv.

While Russia (ranked 27 in the FIFA list) will be the favourites against India (ranked 69), the Blue Tigresses head coach Crispin Chettri is not ready to lay down one’s arms without a battle.

“I’ve watched their videos, and of course Russia are a side with very good physical abilities, but I don’t want to break my head over it. I’m concentrating more on what we will do on the pitch tomorrow,” said Chettri.

“A part of this preparation had already been made during our camp in Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh), as you can only do so much between matches. I am happy with how the players are approaching this game. We are going to try things that are in our control, and hopefully, we’ll do well against Russia,” he said.

Chettri handed international debuts to three players in the Blue Tigresses’ first match against Jordan – Purnima Kumari, Nirmala Devi, and Babina Devi, and is looking to mould a new-look senior women’s team. However, senior players remain to be of paramount importance.

“I want to bring more youngsters into the fold, but we need the senior players too. The likes of Manisha and Grace (Dangmei) are not only senior players, but they have had the experience of playing in tough foreign leagues, and can really help the others grow,” said Chettri. “The youngsters we currently have definitely need to work to improve, but they can be a step ahead if they learn for the senior players, how to be mentally fit, to have the right attitude towards the game.”

India and Russia had met once in the past in a friendly match in 2021, which the Blue Tigresses ended on the losing side. Winger Grace Dangmei, who was a part of the team four years ago as well, recalls Russia as a tough opposition. “It will be a tough game for us tomorrow. We’ve played them before, and Russia were extraordinarily good,” said Grace.

“But we have a good team too with many fresh faces. I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone here to show that if we stick to the plan and play as a team, we can do well against a quality opposition like Russia.”