New Delhi: Indian women’s football team winger Dangmei Grace on Sunday said that the youngster is working hard to earn a place in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup squad. Many young players have been included in the ongoing Indian team’s camp in Kochi for the Asian Cup.
The continental competition will be held from January 20 to February 6 at three venues in Maharashtra. Of the 27 players taking part in the camp, 13 are below 25 years of age. Dengmei said, “The team has a lot of young players and they are all working hard to make it to the Asian Cup squad. We also have a lot of young players who are also part of the U-17 team including Silky (Devi), Astom (Araon), Martina (Thomchom) and a few others who bring a lot of energy to the team.”
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The presence of such young players in the team means that more experienced players are ready to help them on and off the field. The twenty-five-year-old said, “We always help each other, be it practice or off the field. As senior players, we help junior players if they make any mistake.”
“We encourage and help them to take on different responsibilities,” Dengmei said. Dengmei said six World Cup 2023 places are at stake in the Asian Cup and India will try to do its best in this tournament. He said, “It is high time that we do our best. Every match for us will be like a do or die match. Every match will be an opportunity for us.” “Iran, Chinese Taipei and China are all tough teams in our group and we will focus on one match at a time,” Dengmei said. (agency)