Latest news with #CrispinChettri
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
After Asian qualification, Coach Crispin focuses on building strong team
CHENNAI: WHEN Indian footballer-turned coach Crispin Chettri took over the Indian women's football team at the beginning of the year, he had his job cut out for him. Since 2022, the women's team had not been in good form. Their AFC Asia Cup run as hosts was cut short due to a COVID outbreak, and their losses in the South Asian Football Federation's (SAFF) Championships and the Olympic and Asian Games qualifiers set up a tough mountain for him to climb. However, few would have imagined him leading the Blue Tigresses to the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup from that position. But that is exactly what transpired on Saturday (July 6) when midfielder Sangita Basfore scored two goals against Thailand to seal India's spot in the tournament. Not only did he guide the team to qualification, but Chhetri also successfully led one of the biggest comebacks for them. He believes the team's fighting spirit and commitment to the badge played a major role in qualification. 'This bunch of players are more like a family who are willing to die for each other. For them, the badge is more important for them than the name behind the jersey,' Chhetri told this daily.
India Gazette
09-07-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
FIFA Women's World Cup next mountain to climb for Blue Tigresses
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): It's been four days since India's historic qualification for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026. But the dust from the celebrations isn't settling anytime soon, and the women's football hype is only on an upward curve. .'Honestly, it's still hard to express,' said the centre-back. 'There were so many mixed emotions. It didn't even feel real. We kept reassuring each other, 'Yes, it has happened, we've actually done it.' That feeling... it's indescribable. Anyone who supports women's football or is part of it would understand what it feels like to qualify. It was overwhelming.' Overwhelming might still be an understatement considering the giant and historic achievement this is for the Indian women's team. One that could shape the future of the women's game in the country. The stakes were incredibly high, as the Women's Asian Cup also serves as a pathway to the FIFA Women's World Cup. That's exactly why the Blue Tigresses are in no mood to rest after this first-ever 'qualification' for the Asian Cup. Coach Crispin Chettri barely wasted any time after the full-time whistle in conveying the task at hand to the girls. After the outpouring of emotions and hugs and cries and tears, Chettri gathered everyone in a huddle and said, 'The top of the mountain is the bottom of another mountain. We must continue to learn and grow as a team. We've made it to the Asian Cup. Our next target is the World Cup. We have to keep dreaming.' These dreams have taken multiple hits in the past. None as heartbreaking as the withdrawal from the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022, hosted by India, due to a COVID outbreak in the camp. The Blue Tigresses had only played one game, a 0-0 draw with Iran, and were theoretically only three matches away from qualifying for the World Cup before their dreams were shattered. 'I still get flashbacks from that. The regret lingered,' Sangita Basfore had said nine days before scoring both goals against Thailand, that will give India another shot at making the world stage. This is the second chance. Sweety added, 'It feels really relieving. The last time India hosted the tournament, we couldn't play due to COVID. But this time, we played all our matches well, we went through everything, and we qualified. We've done it after 23 years. The World Cup dream is alive.' And they didn't just do it against any opposition. This was Thailand, a side ranked 24 places above them, a side that had beaten them 10-0 in the 2014 Asian Games, a side that had already played two World Cups. This was Futoshi Ikeda's Thailand. The mastermind who coached Japan to the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup. He might have thrashed eventual world champions Spain 4-0 that time, but last Saturday, he and his side had no reply to the roar of the Blue Tigresses. Captaining India on such a monumental day is a memory that will stay with Sweety Devi forever, who, at only 25, already has 66 caps to her name. Chettri rotated captains during the Qualifiers, announcing it during the matchday morning team meeting and formally handing the armband in the dressing room. Sweety was the captain against Mongolia, Sangita got the armband against Timor-Leste, and Sanju had the opportunity to lead the team against Iraq. The 'leaders' may alternate, but for Sweety, this success is about the entire team, not just those on the pitch, but those off the pitch too, including the coaches and support staff. This is everyone's reward. 'It's always a proud moment to be a captain, but this is about the whole team. It's not just me. I only have the armband, and the team has given me that responsibility. But the contribution is equal. Each and every player, every staff member, and everyone has played a role. So this success belongs to the whole team and the whole nation.' India will know their opponents at the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 after the draw is conducted on July 29. Twelve teams will be split into three groups of four each. India is placed in Pot 4 and will be drawn against either Australia, Japan or DPR Korea from Pot 1, China, the Korea Republic or Vietnam from Pot 2, and the Philippines, Chinese Taipei or Uzbekistan from Pot 3. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best runners-up, will advance to the quarter-finals. The four quarter-final winners will qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil. The losing quarter-finalists will contest the play-offs for the two remaining direct spots allocated to the AFC for the World Cup. The two play-off losers will have another chance of qualifying for Brazil via the inter-confederation play-offs. (ANI)
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
India's task cut out in ‘knockout' tie vs Thailand
"Tomorrow's game is not only about us qualifying for the AFC," Crispin Chettri said on the eve of their crucial winner-takes-all game against twice World Cup-finalists Thailand on Saturday. "It will be massive not only for women's football but for everyone related to football in India. It will be like a ray of hope," the Indian women's head coach told TOI from Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Friday. With the Indian men's team languishing on last spot in their respective group of the AFC qualifiers, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Manolo Marquez's successor at the senior national team's helm, and the general dismay regarding the future of Indian football among its followers, qualifying for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers 2026 could be a small ray of hope for the country. While the last meeting between the sides ended in a 0-1 defeat for the Indian women at 2023 Asian Games, the Group B clash is billed to be one between equals, given the recent form of the both sides who have amassed the same number of wins, goals, points and an identical goal difference of +22 after three games at the qualifying leg at 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium. India have romped to the top of the group with an 11-0 demolition of Mongolia, a 4-0 cruise against Timor Leste and a dominant 5-0 win over Iraq. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3.5, 4.5 BHK Homes starting at ₹4.89 Cr.* Hero Homes Learn More Undo On the other hand, the world No. 46 Thailand, needing 12 goals over Mongolia to beat Chettri's team to the coveted ticket to Australia, scored identical 11 goals to make Saturday's fixture a knockout match. With penalties to play decider if the winner isn't decided in the 90 minutes, India would like their firepower of Manisha Kalyan, Sangita Basfore, India's topscorer Pyari Xaxa and tournament revelation Priyadarshini Selladurai to wrap things up in regulation time. Basfore and Anju Tamang are the two players who were part of India's 2023 Asian Games squad that tasted defeat against Thailand and will be eager to turn things around, especially for teammate Soumya Guguloth, whose injury in the Iraq game will keep her out of the decider. Chettri, however, is impressed with the women's show so far, especially in the background of limited resources available in their journey, vis-a-vis the men's team. "As a coach, I am already proud of these players irrespective of the result (on Saturday). The amount of hard work and challenges they have faced to reach here is incredible. For me, in sports, there are no failures. We just keep learning and growing as a team," he signed off.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
India vs Iraq LIVE streaming info: Where to watch AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifier between IND and IRQ?
India resumes its AFC Asian Cup 2026 Qualifying campaign against Iraq on Wednesday. The Blue Tigresses lead Group B with six points, closely followed by Thailand which is second due to a lower goal difference. Coach Crispin Chettri noted that there's not much difference between Timor Leste and Iraq, and that getting all three points will take priority over the number of goals being scored. When is the India vs Iraq AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier? The AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier between India and Iraq will kick off at 2:30pm IST on Wednesday, July 2, at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium. Where to watch the India vs Iraq AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier LIVE? The AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier between India and Iraq will be streamed live on Changsuek YouTube Channel and Thai Women's Football Facebook Page.
India Gazette
01-07-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Table-toppers India ready for penultimate AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification test against Iraq
Chiang Mai [Thailand], July 1 (ANI): Aiming to extend their perfect run in Group B of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, the Indian senior women's team will face Iraq on Wednesday, at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium at 14:30 IST. The match will be streamed live on Changsuek's YouTube Channel and Thai Women's Football Facebook Page. India currently sits at the top of the table with six points and a goal difference of +17 after wins against Mongolia (13-0) and Timor-Leste (4-0). Thailand are in second, also with six points but a goal difference of +11. Iraq have already played three games and is on four points. They must defeat India to have any chance of staying alive on the road to Australia. While it has turned into a race between India and Thailand to increase their goal difference before they meet on the final day (July 5), Blue Tigresses coach Crispin Chettri affirmed that three points are the bigger priority, and the sole focus is only the Iraq game at the moment. 'Thailand is the last match, but for now, our full focus is on Iraq. We shouldn't worry about how many goals Thailand or we have scored, or will score. The priority is to approach the Iraq match with a positive mindset and go for the win. Getting those three points is the most important thing. It will set us up to go into the Thailand game with full confidence and nine points with us,' said Chettri. After defeating Timor-Leste on Sunday, Chettri and his coaching staff stayed at the stadium to watch Iraq suffer a 0-7 drubbing at the hands of the hosts. It has been a rollercoaster ride for the 173rd-ranked West Asians, who were held goalless by Timor-Leste in the first game, before defeating Mongolia 5-2 to earn their first-ever victory on the international stage. Giving his opinion on the Iraq side coached by their former men's international Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail and ranked 103 places below India, Chettri said, 'For me, Iraq are not as weak as people might think. They're a good side, but they've been playing back-to-back matches, so we may have an advantage in terms of recovery. 'Overall, I don't see a big difference between Iraq and Timor-Leste. I feel Timor-Leste were more organised. So, I think we'll get more opportunities to play our game against Iraq. It should be a good match for us to try a few new things as well.' With only two days to prepare after the Timor-Leste match, the Blue Tigresses utilised their break fruitfully, with recovery in the pool and a gym session on Monday morning, followed by a full training session on Tuesday morning. 'We worked on the areas where we fell short in the matches against both Timor-Leste and Mongolia. We're now giving players specific responsibilities, whether it's in attack or in 1v1 defending. That was the main focus of the preparation,' said Chettri. After only the first two games, Chhetri has already used 22 players, including all outfielders, from the 23-member squad. The Indian coach expressed he might look to continue with the rotation trend in the Iraq game and distribute valuable minutes to younger and newer players, while also hoping to keep everyone fresh for the last game. 'More or less, all players have gotten chances. Of course, we cannot take the Iraq match lightly. There may be some rotation, but key players will still get minutes. Giving game time to upcoming players is important at such a stage, but in crucial matches, we'll have to stick to a core group. If we manage to score early, then we may be able to rotate more freely,' said Chettri. Winger Soumya Guguloth, who suffered a nasal bone fracture during the match against Timor-Leste, has been ruled out of Wednesday's match. (ANI)
