Bolden, Annis banner Filipinas in 1st round of Olympic qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine women's national football team veterans Sarina Bolden and Tahnai Annis will be headlining the Filipinas in their bid to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In the opening round of the Olympic qualifiers, the 49th-ranked Filipinas will face lower-rated teams such as host Tajikistan (144th), Pakistan (161st) and Hong Kong (79th).

Games will be played at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan.

Bolden and Annis are joined by fellow veterans like Inna Palacios, Hali Long, Eva Madarang, Anicka Castaneda and Quinley Quezada.

Chandler McDaniel returns to the roster for the first time since her injury in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup early last year.

Her sister Olivia McDaniel and Kiara Fontanilla join Palacios as the keepers in the roster.

Maya Alcantara, Alicia Barker, Reina Bonta, Jessika Cowart, Malea Cesar and Sofia Harrison round up the defenders along with Long and Madarang.

Joining Annis and Castaneda in the midfield are Sara Eggesvik, Carleigh Frilles, Jaclyn Sawicki and Meryll Serrano.

Forwards, meanwhile, also include Katrina Guillou.

The Filipinas play Pakistan first on April 5, Wednesday. Hosts Tajikistan are next on Saturday, April 8, while they wrap up the tournament against Hong Kong on April 11.

The Filipinas hope to sweep the competition to move on to the next round of qualifiers.

They last saw action in the 2023 Pinatar Cup in Spain earlier this year.