Diptayan HazraThe path to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 for Kaviya Pakkirisamy and Sowmiya Narayanasamy is as much about overcoming obstacles as it is about playing football. The ascent of the two Tamil Nadu players from dusty village fields to the continental arena is proof of their tenacity. Growing up in environments where opportunities were scarce, support was limited and social norms often dictated what girls could or could not do, the two players carved their own path with determination.Sowmiya, who is from a village in Salem, was introduced early to realities faced by girls in sport. “In my village, we could not play in shorts,” says the 25-year-old goalkeeper.“Women’s football in India still struggles for attention in a cricket-dominated ecosystem. Our national sport is hockey, but most people play cricket. We have come to this level, the Asian Cup, but we are not getting support like cricket,” says Kaviya.Despite those odds, education remained a parallel focus for both. Kaviya, a 23-year-old attacker with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, says football altered the trajectory of her life. “If there was no football, I would have gotten married and stayed in my village,” she says.Sowmiya, who scored 82% in her Class XII boards, had different dreams. “I just wanted to play. Playing for India was not in my mind. I wanted to become an IPS officer, so I balanced my studies and games,” she says.The duo believe the landscape has slowly begun to change, particularly with the growth of the Indian Women’s League (IWL). “IWL has improved a lot for women’s football in our country. There is more development now. Clubs are providing all the facilities that women need,” says Sowmiya, who represents Gokulam Kerala FC.India’s qualification for the Asian Cup was hard-earned. The team topped their group in Thailand last June, beating higher-ranked hosts Thailand 2-1 in a decisive match, with Sangita Basfore scoring both goals.“We got a new coach and the old coach is also with us. We are getting more support. Our preparation over the last two months has gone well,” says Sowmiya.With the Asian Cup doubling up as the route to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, the stakes are clear. “We qualified for the AFC Asian Cup with a lot of difficulty. We can do anything to qualify for the World Cup. We have prepared for everything,” says Sowmiya.India have been drawn in a demanding group alongside Japan, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei. While aware of the challenge posed by higher-ranked opponents, Sowmiya remains confident. “We know they are higher ranked and play in good clubs. We are a developing country, but we can do better. It will be difficult against Japan, but we are a good team and we have worked hard to get here. We have to do well,” she says.Under new head coach Amelia Valverde, who previously guided Costa Rica at two FIFA Women’s World Cups, the focus has been on clarity and communication.“In training, we know what we are supposed to do. If there are corrections, Amelia helps us. Every two days we have meetings with the coaches to discuss what we will do next,” says Kaviya.While qualification permutations exist, the players are clear about their ambition. “We are aiming for direct qualification. The second option is not on the table,” says Kaviya. A semi-final finish would secure India a direct ticket to the World Cup, but inside the camp, the emphasis remains firmly on the immediate task rather than the distant reward.India will open their campaign on Wednesday in Perth against Vietnam, ranked 36 in the world, before facing Asia’s top-ranked side Japan, who are eighth globally, on Saturday. They will then take on Chinese Taipei, ranked 40, on March 10. India, placed 67th in the FIFA rankings, head into the group as the lower-ranked team in all three fixtures, but this squad has already shown that rankings do not define them.“Our first focus is Vietnam. That is the first step,” says Sowmiya. “Of course, the bigger goal is to qualify for the World Cup, and reaching the semi-finals is the target because that guarantees qualification.”Kaviya says the team is not worried about the opponents. “We are doing our job on the training ground. As well as in the gym, improving ourselves physically. Every player is motivated. We want to get the job done.”For Kaviya, a World Cup qualification is all about making a point. “Many girls drop out after injury, thinking they cannot continue. I came back from injury and missed last season’s IWL. If we qualify, it will be a success story for me and for the state. People will believe that like me they can make a comeback,” she says.
