Sunday, Oct 19, 2025 20:45 [IST]
Last Update: Saturday, Oct 18, 2025 15:12 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Sikkim is hosting an international friendly match between the senior national women’s teams of India and Nepal at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, on October 29.
The match will be played under floodlights, with the kick-off time being 4:30 pm, informed the Sikkim Football Association (SFA). It is the first officially recognized international football match being played in Sikkim. Certain relaxations were given for Sikkim, as international matches are not usually played on artificial turf like that of Paljor Stadium.
Women referees from Bhutan will be the match officials for the international friendly between India and Nepal at Paljor Stadium, informed SFA president Menla Ethenpa at a press meet here on Saturday.
The Indian women’s football team is ranked 63rd, while Nepal is placed in the 87th position in the FIFA rankings.
The match comes at a time when India has made a historic qualification for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 after two decades and is seen as a vital preparatory game for Team India. Indian team head coach Crispin Chettri and striker Anju Tamang will be familiar faces for the local audience.
Crispin hails from Kurseong, Darjeeling district, and was well known among football lovers in Sikkim during his playing days. It was under his stewardship that India secured qualification for the Asian Cup.
Anju Tamang, though from Dooars, trained and played for Sikkim in various junior age-group national football tournaments before breaking into the national senior women’s football team.
“The match between India and Nepal is a recognized international women’s friendly. It is a good opportunity for the football lovers here to see the national teams of India and Nepal playing here,” said the SFA president.
The SFA added that the October 29 international friendly match is an addition to the yearlong Statehood Golden Jubilee celebrations of Sikkim.
The Indian team is scheduled to arrive in Gangtok on October 26, while the Nepal team will be reaching on October 28.
A nominal entry fee is being charged for spectators, while entry is free for students with their identity cards.
The SFA also extended its heartiest congratulations to the Indian U-17 women’s football team for qualifying for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. The qualification was secured on Friday and comes after a gap of 20 years.
Sikkim’s Abista Basnet, who hails from Pakyong, is a key player in the U-17 Indian women’s team.
Meanwhile, the SFA is also preparing to organize the Governor’s Gold Cup football tournament 2025 in the second week of November.
