Indian women's football team midfielder, Soumya Guguloth, underwent successful surgery after sustaining a nasal bone fracture during a match against Timor-Leste. The incident occurred during the second half of the game. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed the successful surgery and stated that the 24-year-old is currently recovering at the team hotel after being discharged from the hospital.
The injury occurred in the 53rd minute when Soumya collided with Timor-Leste defender Idalia Alves Belo. Soumya had tested the Timor-Leste defense a couple of times in the second half but could not convert the opportunities into goals before her injury. India won the match against Timor-Leste 4-0, securing their second consecutive victory in the group. Manisha Kalyan scored twice (12th, 80th minute), while Anju Tamang (58th minute) and Lynda Kom Serto (86th minute) also contributed to the scoreline. India dominated the match from start to finish.
With this win, India tops Group B with six points, ahead of Thailand on goal difference. Iraq is currently third in the group with four points. India is competing in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. India will play Iraq on Wednesday, followed by a match against Thailand on Saturday. These matches are crucial for India's qualification for the AFC Women's Asian Cup.
Coach Crispin Chettri acknowledged Soumya's absence as a significant loss but expressed confidence in the team's bench strength. "Soumya is definitely a big loss. It's an unfortunate blow for everyone here. I wish she could be back as soon as possible. For now, I feel we do have enough bench strength to cope with her absence," said Chettri. Chettri is also targeting improved first-half performances as the race to the AFC Women's Asian Cup heats up. He noted that Iraq would be knocked out of contention if they fail to defeat India in their upcoming match. This would set up the last match between India and Thailand as a direct playoff for qualification.
Soumya Guguloth was named AIFF Women's Player of the Year. In addition to her national team commitments, Soumya has also played for Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
