European league

SAFF Women: The Indian senior women's team will have a tough task in hand when they take on Nepal in the semifinals of the SAFF Women's Championship at the Dasharath Stadium here on Sunday. Nepal are considered a consistent side in SAFF, who reached the final in the last edition of the championship at India’s expense. To add to five-time runners-up Nepal’s advantage, they are the hosts and would naturally be backed by an ardent crowd.

Indian captain Ashalata Devi, a veteran of many a battle, is aware of the situation. "The crowd in Nepal is huge, and they are passionate about football," said Ashalata. “Some of our younger players haven’t experienced a crowd like this before, and it can feel different.”

Ashalata, however, was quick to shrug off any suggestion that the team could feel intimidated by the support the host side are expected to receive from the stands.