New Delhi, 03 May (H.S.):

The Indian women’s under‑17 football team, making its first appearance in the AFC U‑17 Women’s Asian Cup in 21 years, began its China 2026 campaign with a 0–2 defeat against Australia in their opening Group B match. The result was disappointing, but coach Pamela Conti stressed that the team put in a commendable performance and is now turning its focus to the upcoming clash with hosts and four‑time champions Japan.

Speaking to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Conti acknowledged that the match against Australia was tough and that the physically strong Australian side posed a stiff challenge. She highlighted that India’s defensive structure remained largely intact, and the team limited the number of goals conceded. “We made errors that led to the goals,” she said, adding that correcting those mistakes in positioning and decision‑making is crucial for the next game.

Despite the loss, the Italian coach underlined several positive aspects of the performance. “I see a lot of positives in this match,” Conti said. “Australia could not score many more goals, which means our defending was solid. The players showed great spirit, commitment, and hunger. Everyone fought for the jersey till the end. Now, our full attention is on the Japan game.”

Conti expressed pride in her young charges, calling the performance encouraging against one of Asia’s top‑ranked sides. “I am very proud of my team and the way we played,” she said.

“Australia is an extremely strong team, and we still managed to stay compact and show courage. Now we have to face Japan, which could be an even tougher assignment. We also have to manage the players’ physical condition, as we have a busy schedule and the next match is not going to be easy.”

Midfielder Thandamoni Baske echoed the coach’s sentiment, saying the team did not play its worst football. “This was our first match of the tournament,” she said. “We played well, but I feel we could have done better. Australia could not create many shots, and the goals we conceded came from our own mistakes. We still have more games ahead of us, so we will work harder and fight to win.”

India’s opener was played on Pitch 8 of the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre in Suzhou, China, on Saturday, when the Young Tigresses lost 0–2 to Australia. The team now prepares to take on Japan on May 5, followed by a match against Lebanon on May 8, as they aim to win to keep their group‑stage chances alive.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar