On Sunday, August 10, India secured a historic qualification for the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup, marking their return to the Continental tournament after almost two decades. India last featured in the competition back in 2006.
AIFF rewards India Women's team
In recognition of the team's outstanding achievement, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced a reward of USD 25,000 (approximately ₹22 lakh) for the players.
“The Federation will work closely with all stakeholders to facilitate extended training camps and secure high-quality international exposure for the team,” AIFF said in a release.
“The aim for the Federation is not only to make the players physically and mentally fit through training, but also to make them ready to rub shoulders against the best in Asia. Opportunities for the AIFF to arrange quality opponents to play preparatory matches are also being looked at,” the statement added.
The Indian U-20 women’s team delivered a very impressive performance in Group D of the qualification campaign. As they remained unbeaten, they played out a goalless draw against Indonesia, and demolished Turkmenistan 7-0 and past the hosts Myanmar by a bare margin of 1-0 in front of a packed Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.
The squad has been in training since December 2024, as they spent a total of 135 days in camp as part of their preparation. During this period, they participated in the Pink Ladies Youth Cup in Turkiye, where they recorded victories over teams like Hong Kong and Jordan.
In the lead-up to the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, several U-20 players also trained alongside the senior national team. As part of their build-up, the Indian Women played two international friendlies against Uzbekistan U-20s in Tashkent, drawing 1-1 in the first and winning 4-1 in the second.
This qualification marks a significant milestone for women’s football in India, highlighting the growing strength and promise of the next generation of players.