Striker-Turned-Goalkeeper Nandini Kumar Set for India Debut at AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup
In a proud moment for Chandigarh, striker-turned-goalkeeper Nandini Kumar has been selected in the 24-member squad for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup by the All India Football Federation. Standing 5.9 feet tall, Nandini is currently in Thailand with the Indian team, which has qualified for the Asian Cup after a gap of 20 years.
Training and Tournament Schedule
After a 13-day training camp, the Indian women's team will play their first Group C match against Japan on April 2. This will be followed by matches against Australia on April 5 and Chinese Taipei on April 8. The top two teams in the group, along with the two best third-placed teams across all three groups, will advance to the quarterfinals.
Nandini's Journey and Background
Nandini, a trainee at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, under coach Bhupinder Singh Pinka, has previously become the first female footballer from Chandigarh to sign with a professional club. She is currently playing for Sethu FC in Tamil Nadu and has been making a significant impact.
Her father, Vijay Kumar, is a Class IV employee, and her mother worked as a domestic help. As Nandini's football career progressed, the family's situation has improved somewhat.
Insights from Nandini and Her Coach
"I am feeling good. We have enough time to get settled into the conditions here, and we are eyeing to play good football in the coming days against tough opponents," said Nandini in an interview with The Tribune from Bangkok.
Coach Bhupinder Singh Pinka highlighted her unique transition: "She has improved her game to a good extent. Most importantly, she started her career as a striker and later turned a goalie. Her height really helps her to stand out among others, and she has really improved her goalkeeping skills."
Pinka added that Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu advised her to shift her focus to goalkeeping, which has yielded positive results. He expressed hope that she will feature in the playing squad and cement her place in the Indian team before progressing to the senior squad.
Preparation and Experience
Nandini has played in friendly internationals while training with the Under-17 and senior teams and has had stints with Bengaluru FC. She noted that training under Swedish head coach Joakim Alexandersson has been beneficial for the side.
"We have had camps in Sweden, played five friendlies, and later trained in India as well. So, we will be entering the tournament well prepared with confidence," she explained.
Representation and Achievements
Nandini has represented Chandigarh in various national tournaments and has participated in events like the Pre-Subroto Football Cup. Her selection for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup marks a significant milestone in her career and a boost for women's football in the region.
