Indian women's football team can qualify for FIFA World Cup: Defender Dalima Chhibber
India booked their Asian Cup berth after defeating higher-ranked Thailand 2-1 in the final qualifier last week, marking the first time the Blue Tigresses have made the tournament through the qualification route. Midfielder Sangita Basfore was the hero of the match, scoring twice in what was effectively a knockout tie.The victory also propelled India seven places up the FIFA rankings to 63rd, reflecting the strides the team has made in recent months. For Dalima, who last represented India in 2024, the achievement signals a turning point in Indian women's football.The qualification is all the more significant given the disappointment of 2022, when the Indian team's AFC Women's Asian Cup campaign ended abruptly after a COVID-19 outbreak forced them to withdraw. That setback, Dalima said, has only strengthened the team's resolve to return and compete at the highest level.With players such as Pyari Xaxa and Basfore leading from the front, Dalima believes India have the personnel to compete with the best in Asia and push for a place on the world stage."Qualifying for the Asian Cup is not the end goal," she noted. "It's the next step towards where we want to be - playing in the World Cup and making the country proud."The AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 will serve as a key stepping stone in that journey, offering India the platform to test themselves against Asia's elite and, potentially, secure a ticket to the FIFA Women's World Cup.- EndsTrending Reel
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