Brave Indian women chase World Cup dream

Panaji: Four years ago, India’s dream ended before it could even begin.
It was the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022, the continent’s biggest tournament was being played at home and the players had trained for months. Some dreamt of it for years. But after just one game against Iran, there was heartbreak as more than half the team tested positive for Covid-19 and, as per competition guidelines, were considered to have withdrawn.
The hosts were embarrassingly turned away from its own party.
Now, as another edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup kicks off in Australia, India have made it, this time on sporting merit, qualifying for the first time in 23 years. Among the 26 players in the squad, eight were part of the last Asian Cup.
“There are no coincidences in life, and we are back here again with a chance to prove ourselves,” coach Amelia Valverde said ahead of the group-stage opener against Vietnam, to be played in Perth on Wednesday. “This is a new opportunity for us to represent our team in the best possible manner.”
At a time when the men’s national team has hit rock bottom, unable to win any of their games in the Asian Cup final round qualifiers despite being the highest ranked, women have provided plenty of hope. Three women’s teams have made it to the final round of the Asian Cup, quite a turnaround since the days when India were taken off the rankings grid for not playing enough internationals.
There are 12 teams at the Asian Cup and eight of them could possibly qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year. The top six qualify directly, two will earn playoff spots. Can India dare to dream?
“We have worked very hard in the last few weeks, and the motivation is high within the team to get the best possible result for India,” said Valverde, who coached Costa Rica at two FIFA World Cups.
Valverde’s side is placed in a difficult group that has former world champions Japan, World Cuppers Vietnam and a strong Chinese Taipei. India open against Vietnam who made the quarterfinals in 2022, then the World Cup and have been part of every finals since 1999.
“They are a team with a lot of quality because they played the last World Cup and they’ve been with the same coach for a long time,” said Valverde. “We are aware of the kind of opposition we are facing. But our job is to exhibit the best version of the Indian team, and make sure there’s no doubt that we will be out there to compete and give our best.”
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