New Delhi: Just days ahead of their AFC Women’s Asian Cup opener against Vietnam in Perth, India’s women’s footballers found themselves with an unexpected problem – ill-fitting jerseys and a lack of proper training gear. In a rare and strongly worded letter to AIFF deputy general secretary M Satyanarayanan, all 26 players expressed their frustration, saying the issue had hurt their morale at a crucial time.“Representing India on the international stage requires professional standards including fit, appropriate playing and training attire,” the letter said.Players revealed that they had already encountered problems due to a lack of clothing during their preparations. “The arrival of the wrong match kit at this critical stage further affected morale and disrupted our focus in the final days before the match.”Shockingly, the jerseys are reportedly too small and appear to be sized for under-15 players and would not fit at least 80 per cent of the squad. Even the coaching staff received equipment that was the incorrect size.“This match marks our return to a major continental competition after 23 years and is an important moment for the Indian women’s football team. Unfortunately, losing No. 2 on match day… we identified a serious problem. The jerseys supplied were not fit for purpose.”The letter, signed by eight senior players including captain Sweety Devi and Grace Dangmei, but backed by the entire squad, calls for urgent action. “We urgently request: 1. The immediate provision of correct sized match and training kits… 2. Confirmation that suitable replacements will be delivered before kick-off. 3. Clarification on the measures in place to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future,” it further added.Despite the setback, the players added: “We remain fully committed to representing our country with pride and giving our best performance.”The AIFF later said that new jerseys have been provided and approved by AFC officials.
