PANAJI: The top Indian striker Bala Devi is not possible to regain full fitness and make it to the troops for the Asian Cup AFC 2022 at home, said coach Thomas Dennerby on Saturday.
The country’s biggest name in female football became the first Indian woman to get a professional football contract abroad when she joined Rangers FC in February last year.
He extended his contract with the club and returned home in July to recover from injury.
“From what I have heard, Bala has an ACL injury (anterior ligament) and he is not with us because of that,” Dennerby told reporters during online media interactions.
“He will do the operation immediately I think, if he hasn’t done it yet.
But this is in September and ACL injury usually takes several months.
For him, it’s really a difficult situation to be ready for the Asian Cup.” The source said the striker was 31 years old It was undergoing surgery for ACL earlier this month.
If experienced rewards have longed, it will be a big blow to the chances of the team in the tournament played at home.
The former Indian captain has 42 goals in 47 international matches.
The 2022 edition of the Asian Cup will be played with 12 teams for the first time, four more than the last four editions.
Dy Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri and Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complent in Balewadi, Pune, will hold all games from January 20 to February 6, 2022.
‘Tough for Bala Devi who was injured to make it to the Indian team’
