Under-18 women’s football team from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, the Maldives, and Pakistan are in the capital to participate in the first South Asian Football Federation U-18 Women’s Championship.

The host selection for the inaugural edition of the championship was held in Bangladesh in July and Bhutan is the first to host the championship after the country organised SAFF under 15 women’s championship last month.

The U-18 championship will play the Maldives, which could not take part in U-15 women’s championship last month. However, Sri Lanka that finished their debut appearance in U-15 championship will not participate in the U-18 championship.

The national U-18 women’s squad comprise of players that lifted Women’s Super League 2018. The league this year saw competitive matches with players from India taking part in the competition.

The national women’s U-18 team is further strengthened after including U-15 players who performed well in Bhutan’s triumph to win third place in SAFF U-15 championship.

Bhutan will take on India on the opening day tomorrow and Nepal will play Pakistan. Bhutan is placed in pool A along with India, and the Maldives. Bhutan will be playing the Maldives for the first time.

Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan are placed in the same pool. The top two teams from the pool will qualify to play the semi finals.

All matches of the championship will be played at Changlingmithang national stadium.

Bhutan hosted three South Asian championships of U-18 men’s championship, U-15 women’s championship and U-18 women’s championship in two years.

Nima

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