Japan-born forward Matsushima Sumaya has been named in the 22-member final squad of the Bangladesh women's football team for the 2023 Asian Games which will be held in September-October in China.
Sumaya already became the first expatriate player of the national women's football team when she featured as substitute during the recent two-match FIFA friendly series against Nepal in Dhaka.
She was the first ever Japan-born player to get called up for the Bangladesh national football camp earlier this year.
Among the notable changes in the Asiad squad, young prodigy Shaheda Akter Ripa also got the nod while Shamsunnahar Junior made a return after recovering from fever but Shohagi Kisku and Aklima Khatun were excluded from the squad of Nepal friendlies.
Saiful Bari Titu has been named as the head coach of the team to fill the vacancy left by Golam Rabbani Choton.
This is the first time Bangladesh women's football team will be participating in the Asiad, scheduled for September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou.
