Yangon, Aug 11 (NationPress) Following the successful qualification of the Indian U20 women's team for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup, head coach Joakim Alexandersson shared that his squad was mentally equipped to tackle the challenges leading to this continental achievement.

Just 36 days after the Indian senior women's team made history by securing a place in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, the Indian U20 women's team continued the momentum by clinching their spot in the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup on Sunday.

After a triumphant journey in Yangon, the Young Tigresses received a warm welcome upon their return to New Delhi on Monday morning.

In a span of five weeks, a two-decade wait came to an end. While the Blue Tigresses achieved their goal after 23 years, the Young Tigresses are set to return to the continental stage after a 20-year hiatus.

Alexandersson, who has been coaching this team since his appointment in December last year, was visibly emotional after achieving his first significant milestone in Indian women's football.

"This is incredibly special for the girls. They’ve been preparing diligently for months, and the inspiring performance of the senior women’s team gave them an added boost. They displayed great team spirit and were determined to accomplish this as well. Our sole objective upon arriving in Myanmar was to qualify for the Asian Cup, and we did just that," Alexandersson stated.

Captain Shubhangi Singh, who initially felt disheartened after the goalless draw with Indonesia, expressed her joy after Sunday’s victory.

"I’m absolutely thrilled! The teamwork we demonstrated, especially in the second half, was commendable. We gave it everything we had, and it paid off. Despite the crowd's pressure, our mindset remained resilient.

"I believe we were the superior team, but I commend them for their effort as well. We entered the match with a winning mentality, as a draw would’ve felt like a loss. We went for the win, and that's what counts!" Shubhangi remarked.

The second half proved to be challenging as the hosts intensified their attacks. Nevertheless, the Indian defense, anchored by Cindy Colney and Thoibisana Chanu, who had not conceded any goals in the qualifiers, remained steadfast. With each clearance and interception, their confidence soared. Whenever Myanmar threatened, the agile Monalisha Devi, the Indian goalkeeper, stood firm.

Myanmar nearly equalized in the 80th minute with a deflected ball, but Monalisha's quick reflexes saved the day. The 19-year-old achieved a unique distinction of being the only player to be part of both qualifying teams - senior and U20.

Alexandersson remarked, "To be honest, the second half didn’t showcase our best play, but maintaining a clean sheet for the third time and the tremendous teamwork reflects the incredible morale of these players."

After the celebratory moments on the field, the Swedish coach addressed the players and staff with heartfelt words.

"This is an emotional moment for me, witnessing your hard work. Despite the challenges, your effort was immense. We fought valiantly, defending with everything we had. We truly earned our place in this Asian Cup, which is exactly why we are here.

"In the first match, we struggled to score, but we improved, and that improvement made all the difference today. Looking back at all three matches, I believe we thoroughly deserve our qualification for the Asian Cup.

"Of course, there are still areas for improvement, but we now have time before the tournament to refine our play and enhance our skills. I eagerly look forward to that," Alexandersson concluded.

All eyes will now shift to the India U17 women's team, aiming to secure a hat-trick of Asian Cup qualifications for Indian women's football this year. The U17s last participated in the Asian Cup in 2005, meaning another two-decade wait could be coming to an end. To prepare for the qualifiers, the U17s will compete in the SAFF U17 Women's Championship starting August 20. The qualifiers are scheduled from October 13 to 17, where the Young Tigresses will face Uzbekistan and hosts Kyrgyz Republic.