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Indian U17 Women Qualify for AFC Cup After 21 Years; Historic 2-1 Comeback Win Over Uzbekistan

Shivansh Rana | 3 min read | 3 weeks ago | Oct 18, 2025 07:37 pm IST
Indian U17 Women Qualify for AFC Cup After 21 Years; Historic 2-1 Comeback Win Over Uzbekistan

India’s U17 Women Clinch Historic AFC Asian Cup Spot in Dramatic Comeback

What a night. Seriously. Down 0-1 at halftime in a must-win game, the Indian U17 Women’s team just pulled off a stunning comeback against Uzbekistan to make history. They’ve now qualified for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in 21 long years. And they did it on merit.

Key Takeaways

  • India has qualified for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026, ending a 21-year wait.
  • This is their first-ever qualification on merit, secured with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Uzbekistan.
  • Thandamoni Baskey and Anushka Kumari scored the crucial second-half goals on October 17, 2025.
  • It’s a historic “hat-trick” for Indian football, as the U17, U20, and Senior women’s teams have all qualified for their respective Asian Cups this year.

A Comeback for the Ages

Look, the pressure was immense. India went into their final qualifying match in Bishkek knowing they just needed to avoid defeat against a tough Uzbekistan side. But things didn’t start well. Uzbekistan’s Shaxrizoda Alixonova found the net around the 38th minute, putting India completely on the back foot going into halftime.

But this team has some serious fight. Coach Joakim Alexandersson made some inspired changes that totally flipped the script. In the 55th minute, Thandamoni Baskey fired in the equalizer, and you could feel the momentum shift. And then, just 11 minutes later, Anushka Kumari scored the winner, sealing a legendary 2-1 victory and their ticket to China.

A Golden Year for Indian Women’s Football

Here’s the thing. This win isn’t just about one team or one tournament. It’s part of something much bigger happening in Indian football. For the first time in history, all three of India’s women’s national teams – the U17s, the U20s, and the Senior squad – have qualified for their respective AFC Asian Cups in the same year.

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That’s a massive statement. A true “hat-trick” that shows just how far the women’s game has come in the country. This victory in Kyrgyzstan is a huge milestone on that incredible journey.

The Perfect Campaign

India’s road to qualification was absolutely flawless. They topped Group G with a perfect record of six points from two matches. It all kicked off on October 14, 2025, with a dominant 3-0 thrashing of the hosts, Kyrgyzstan.

That first win set the stage perfectly for the final showdown with Uzbekistan. By securing the victory, the team proved they were the best in their group and fully deserve their spot in the finals. So, what do you think this team can achieve in China?