The India women’s senior national football team secured a 1-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in an international friendly match at the Hamad Town Stadium in Bahrain on Wednesday, October 13.

Renu’s early strike in the third minute helped Indian women secure their second consecutive  win after the 5-0 drubbing over Bahrain three days ago.

Before Chinese Taipei, ranked 40th in the FIFA rankings, could settle into the game, a sudden strike by Renu gave India the early lead which happened to be the only goal of the match. In the eighth minute, Renu could have doubled the lead, but she was ruled offside before she could make an effective contact with the cross by Dalima.

Chinese Taipei midfielder Ting Chi almost levelled the score, only to be denied by Aditi Chauhan under the woodwork in the 17th minute. Her compatriot Su Yu-Hsuan was also denied by the Indian goalkeeper on the cusp of the half-hour mark before India went to the changing room with the narrow lead.

Nine minutes after the resumption, Indumathi struck the target, but she was ruled offside, and the score remained unchanged. The prolific midfielder Lee Hsiu-Chin tried her luck from close range before the hour-mark, but Aditi stood tall to deny her confidently.

Chen Yen-Ping had the final effort for Chinese Taipei in the final minute of the regulation time but her effort landed safely into Aditi’s gloves. The match soon came to an end with the Indian women’s team earning their third victory in four friendly matches under new head coach Thomas Dennerby.

India women XI: Aditi Chauhan, Sweety Devi, Ashalata Devi (Manisha Panna 64’), Sangita Basfore, Sanju, Anju Tamang (Ritu Rani 78’), Dangmei Grace (Soumya 88’), Indumathi, Renu (Sandhya 78’), Manisha (Ranjana 64’), Dalima Chhibber.

Featured photo: AIFF