FIFA rankings: Indian women's national team reach calendar year high of 56 in September's rankings

The Indian national women's team have reached a calendar year high of 56 in the latest FIFA women's rankings. FIFA releases its women's rankings after every three months and the last time the rankings were out, India were placed 60th. The latest rankings mark a four-place upswing for the team coached by Maymol Rocky.

India defeated Malaysia 2-0 in the period between June to September and that is a key reason behind the team's improved standing in the FIFA leaderboard. At the top end of the table, the USA lead Germany and England to lead September's FIFA rankings, while the likes of France, Canada and Australia follow them.

Among the AFC teams, Australia, Japan and Korea DPR lead the way, while India are the 13th best team in Asia. They are sandwiched between Iran and Hong Kong, but the gap to the teams immediately above them is much smaller than to those below them, in Asia.

Head coach Rocky expressed delight at India's surge in the latest rankings, saying to the AIFF's official website: "We've seen successes as well as have faced quite a few tough competitions of late. The rise in FIFA Rankings reflects our hard work which is being put in by the team relentlessly.

"Bringing in new blood and creating competition for places in the Team has been a process and I’m pleased we are moving in the right direction.”

General Secretary of the AIFF, Kushal Das, also congratulated the women's teams latest progress, saying: "Development of women's football is one of our priorities and it's heartening to see the women's team rise in FIFA Rankings. Congratulations.''

With today's release, the Indian women's team have now been ranked 56th, 60th and 56th in this calendar year, making their latest standing the joint highest in 2017. That, however, stands to change when the next set of rankings for women's national teams are released by the year-end.

The next FIFA ranking will be published on 15th December.