STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
Kalimpong, 29 March

Here’s a good news for Kalimpong football lovers! Kalimpong’s Anju Tamang has been selected in the 23 players for the Indian Women’s National Team for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, slated to kick-off from 3 April, 2017 in DPR Korea, after a preparatory Camp took place in Goa from 1 March, 2017 and is scheduled to conclude till 30 March, 2017.


Anju Tamang (22) born in Birpara have finished her Madhyamik form Algarah

Higher secondary school from where she had represented her school many times. Tamang was seen playing football from class 6 with boys as she was passionate about the game .


She joined SUMI school for her Higher Secondary. The school has a name in football which students have played in many national level games.Here Tamang met school football coach Prasant Pradhan who too gave her training alongside the school boy’s team.


Anju, after finshing her schooling played in Delhi league in 2013 and Kolkatta

league in 2014. She tirelessly worked to be selected for National team but her dream came true yesterday when she got a call from AIFF. Anju got a platform during the last year when she played for Orissa Rising student team which ended as the runners up in the first ever edition of IWL.She got selected for the SAARC football camp held at Siliguri on January but was not selected which made her disheartened. Prasant Pradhan, her ex coach said:“After she was dropped,she was dishearten but she was determined that she will be selected in the National team.And then she called me up yesterday to inform about her selection.”


Anju Tamang said:“This is a very proud moment for me. I am very happy.”


Anju plays in forward position and her best women player is Marta, from Brazil women’s team and Neymar from Brazil’s National team.


India has been drawn in Group B alongside hosts DPR Korea,Korea Republic, Hong Kong and Uzbekistan. The Indian Women will clash swords against hosts DPR Korea in their first match of the qualifying campaign on 3 April before facing Korea Republic on 5 April,Uzbekistan,and Hong Kong on 7 April and 11 April respectively.