India’s campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 came to a disappointing conclusion at Western Sydney Stadium on March 10. Facing Chinese Taipei in their final Group C fixture, the Indian side suffered a 3-1 defeat, leaving them at the bottom of the group without a single point. Despite the outcome, Manisha Kalyan provided a bright spot for the team by netting a goal in the 39th minute. Chinese Taipei’s victory was secured through strikes from Su Yu-hsuan and Chen Yu-chin, while an unfortunate own goal by Panthoi Chanu during first-half stoppage time further hindered India's chances of a comeback.
India knocked out of AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026
The tournament was a steep challenge for the Indian squad, who entered the competition ranked 67th in the world. Their journey began with a narrow 2-1 loss to Vietnam, followed by a difficult 11-0 defeat at the hands of group leaders Japan. Because only the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed finishers advanced to the quarterfinals, India's three consecutive losses ended their hopes of progressing. This exit also means the team will miss out on the opportunity to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil, a privilege reserved for the tournament's semifinalists.
In their final match, India showed significant urgency from the kickoff, employing a high-press strategy and utilizing the flanks to challenge the 40th-ranked Chinese Taipei side. However, an early defensive lapse allowed Su Yu-hsuan to open the scoring within the first 15 minutes. Even after falling behind, the Indian women continued to push forward with aggressive attacking intent, though they were ultimately unable to overcome the clinical finishing and defensive organization of their opponents.
Manisha Kalyan's brilliance goes in vain
The Indian team nearly secured a spectacular equaliser through the brilliance of Manisha Kalyan. The winger showed great skill by cutting inside and launching a powerful long-range strike that unfortunately rattled the crossbar. However, her persistence eventually paid off late in the first half when she took a free-kick from distance; the ball eluded the defense and the goalkeeper alike, bouncing directly into the net to bring India back into the contest.
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The momentum shifted cruelly just as the match approached the halftime whistle. Deep into added time, a handball by Pyari Xaxa inside the penalty area led the referee to award a spot kick to Chinese Taipei. While Hsu Yi-yun’s initial penalty struck the post, the ball took an incredibly unlucky bounce off the back of Indian goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu and rolled over the line. It was a tragic moment for the Indian custodian, who had been instrumental with several key saves up until that point but could do nothing to prevent the freak own goal.
The second half turned into an open and entertaining affair, with both sides trading scoring opportunities as the pace increased. India eventually faltered when Chinese Taipei exploited a significant gap in the defensive line. Wu Kai-ching delivered a precise through ball to Chen Yu-chin, who showed composure by sidestepping an onrushing Chanu to slot the ball home. This final goal solidified the 3-1 scoreline, marking the end of the match for an Indian side that was competing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time since 2003.