New Delhi, August 11: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced a reward of USD 25,000 for the India U20 Women’s National Team after their remarkable qualification for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 — the country’s first in 20 years.
India last appeared in the prestigious continental tournament in 2006, but this time, the Young Tigresses stormed through their Group D qualifiers undefeated, holding Indonesia 0-0, thrashing Turkmenistan 7-0, and edging hosts Myanmar 1-0 in front of a packed Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon. Significantly, they did not concede a single goal throughout the campaign.
AIFF credited the success to long-term planning and grassroots investment, particularly through the ASMITA Women’s Football Leagues, organised in partnership with the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Between 2023 and 2025, 155 leagues were conducted nationwide across U13, U15, and U17 levels, with participation surging from 6,305 to 8,658 players in just one year. The ongoing 2025–26 U13 ASMITA League is already hosting 8,000 players from 400 teams across 26 states.
The U20 squad has been in camp since December 2024, logging 135 days of preparation that included the Pink Ladies Youth Cup in Türkiye, senior team training stints, and friendlies against Uzbekistan.
The AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will be held in Thailand in April, and AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey reiterated the federation’s commitment to arranging extended training camps and high-quality international friendlies. “Our aim is to ensure the girls are ready — not just physically and mentally, but to compete with the best in Asia,” he said.
