New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) Captain Shubhangi Singh of the India U20 women’s team has voiced her optimism regarding the squad's readiness as they prepare for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in Thailand. She affirmed that the team is primed to face formidable rivals in this prestigious tournament.

After a two-decade hiatus, India will commence their campaign against Japan on April 2, being drawn in Group C with Japan, Australia, and Chinese Taipei.

Reflecting on their qualification journey, Shubhangi highlighted the team’s strong mindset. “We approached the qualifiers with confidence and clarity. Believing in our success played a crucial role in our achievement,” she remarked.

The Young Tigresses, currently training in Kolkata, are set to depart for Bangkok on March 20 for their final preparations.

“We are focused on the challenging group matches ahead. We know there won’t be any easy games. We are prepared and eager to showcase our abilities against top-tier teams. Additionally, we will engage in some final preparatory matches before the tournament,” Shubhangi added.

India's matches include a showdown with Japan on April 2, followed by encounters against Australia on April 5 and Chinese Taipei on April 8. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals. The four semi-finalists will earn spots in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland in 2026.

The team's preparation has involved an exposure tour in Sweden and several international friendlies against Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

“Our training has been thorough. Spending a month in Sweden and competing with European clubs was invaluable. These teams were physically superior, providing us with a great learning opportunity,” Shubhangi explained.

She also reflected on the lessons learned from a significant defeat against the Swedish club Hammarby IF during their tour.

“The initial game was challenging. Losing 0-6 was disappointing, but it turned into a crucial learning experience. We adapted better in subsequent games, securing a few wins, a draw, and concluding our camp with a 5-2 victory against Älvsjö AIK. Overall, this experience helped us grasp European playing styles and prepare for teams like Japan,” she noted.

India also had encouraging outcomes against Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, gaining essential experience against physically imposing opponents.

“We faced Uzbekistan multiple times, both before and after the qualifiers, achieving solid results, including three wins and a draw,” Shubhangi remarked.

“In Kazakhstan, we recorded one win and one draw. We dominated possession but initially found it challenging against larger players. These matches offered us significant insights into dealing with such competitors,” she said.

India's first match is against the six-time champions Japan, recognized as one of the strongest teams in the tournament.

“Japan is a formidable opponent. Their junior teams mirror their senior counterparts, so we are prepared for what lies ahead,” Shubhangi commented. “At this point, we cannot view our opponents as insurmountable. We aim to demonstrate the capabilities of this Indian team,” she asserted.

Despite the challenges that await, the captain expressed the team’s ambition to advance past the group stage.

“Our goal is to perform excellently and strive for qualification to the knockout stages. To everyone in Thailand and back home in India, we ask for your support! Your encouragement is vital, and we promise to give our best,” she concluded.