Panaji: The India women’s football team has never felt they are at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia to make up the numbers.“Not even once,” said star midfielder Sangita Basfore, speaking to TOI over a video call from her hotel room in Perth. “In fact, in all our conversations, particularly around dinner tables, we speak with confidence of how we belong here. We know we can qualify.”It was Sangita’s double strike against Thailand in the decisive qualification game that helped India defeat the former World Cuppers on home turf and make it to the Asian Cup. That’s not enough; the goal for the women’s national team is to make it to next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.At first glance, that would seem like a lofty dream. But look at the numbers: there are 12 teams at the Asian Cup and eight of them could possibly book their spots for the World Cup. The four quarter-final winners qualify automatically, while the losing quarterfinalists will contest the play-offs for the two remaining direct spots allocated to Asian nations. The two play-off losers will have another chance of qualifying for Brazil via the Play-off tournament.“We have never felt like we are not capable of doing it. There is growing confidence within the team. We can get good results, but much will depend on our opener against Vietnam (on Wednesday). We know Vietnam are ahead of us in rankings, but we don’t feel inferior,” said Sangita, among the more experienced players with 72 appearances for the national team.India has had the rare luxury of training together for 45 days. There was a training camp in Turkiye before the team travelled to Australia. The sharp change in climate, from winter cold to Australian warmth, was hard to miss, but the fulcrum of the Indian midfield feels the team is now in good shape for the all-important group-stage games.“Whatever time we had together, it was good. We needed this, and friendlies too, so that our preparations are thorough. We had good time to know each other, work out combinations. Games with short breaks (like the tournament format) has helped us prepare for the challenges ahead.“We have trained for so many years, dreaming about the World Cup. Now we are close, and we have to take it forward as a team. Personally, for me, the opening game will be the most important one of my career. I have to give my best,” said Sangita.
