Kathmandu: Defender Manmaya Damai and midfielder Sushma Tamang have earned their first-ever call-ups to the Nepal national women’s football team announced on Thursday for the International Women’s Championship, a four nation football tournament, beginning on February 17.  

Chandra Bhandari and Saraswati Hamal have also marked comeback in the 23-member final squad announced by coach Rajendra Tamang. 

Manmaya played for Nepal APF Club in the recently concluded National Women’s League while Sushma featured for Waling Municipality. The duo are expected to fill in the void left by midfielder Deepa Shahi and defender Hira Kumari Bhujel, both of whom picked injuries during SAFF Women’s Championship in October last year.

Goalkeepers Sabitri Kishan and Sujata Tamang were trimmed from the 30-member training camp. Sabitra Kishan was declared the best goalkeeper in the Women’s National League. 

The three goalkeepers selected for the tournament are captain Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Anjana Ranamagar, and Usha Nath.Captain Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Anjana Ranamagar, and Usha Nath are the goalkeepers to make into final squad.

Amrita Jaishi, Geeta Rana, Bimala BK, Puja Rana, Nisha Thokar, Samiksha Ghimire, and debutant Manmaya Damai are the defenders to earn places in the final squad. Defender Pratiksha Chaudhary was excluded from the squad.

Anita Basnet, Renuka Nagarkote, Preeti Rai, Saru Limbu, Sabita Rana Magar, Saraswati Hamal, Bimala Chaudhary, and Sushma Tamang are the midfielders to make it to the squad. Midfielders Sajani Thokar, Samjhana Lawati, Birsana Chaudhary, Pratiksha Chaudhary, and Mamta Pun missed out on selection.

Star striker Sabitra Bhandar along with Rashmikumari Ghising, Chandra Bhandari, Anita KC, and Rekha Paudel will take charge of attacking departmental.

The tournament to be held from February 17 to 26 at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar will feature Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Lebanon during the FIFA international window. 

Nepal will kick off their campaign taking on Kyrgyzstan on February 17, Lebanon on February 20 and Myanmar February 23 in round robin league format. The top two teams at the end of the league will compete in the final on February 26.