The Indian U17 women’s football team created a historic moment on Sunday, October 11, 2026, after defeating Malaysia with a commanding 4-0 scoreline in their final Group E encounter to book their coveted spot in the upcoming AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027, as the Young Tigresses showcased brilliant form at the MP Selayang Stadium in Selayang, Malaysia, to cap off their qualifiers with an unblemished record initiated by Redima Devi Chingkhamayum’s first-half goal and reinforced by second-half finishes from Pritika Barman, Anushka Kumari, and Nidhi. By finishing at the top of Group E with nine points from three games, an astonishing tally of 20 goals scored, and a clean defensive sheet, India achieved a landmark feat for national football by becoming the very first Indian side to qualify for consecutive editions of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup at any level, including the senior team. Entering the match under immense pressure since both teams had secured victories in their first two games, the fixture functioned as a direct face-off for Group E’s sole qualification berth, and India demonstrated their ambitions right from the start, breaking through in the 29th minute through Redima Devi Chingkhamayum’s sensational long-range strike that settled early nerves. Maintaining a firm grip on the game despite Malaysia’s attempts to equalize, India preserved their 1-0 advantage until half-time and then intensified their dominance after the interval, with Pritika Barman scoring in the 51st minute and Anushka Kumari netting a powerful long-distance shot just five minutes later to stretch the score to 3-0, before Nidhi completed the rout in the 87th minute to secure the 4-0 victory. This stellar triumph crowned a flawless qualification campaign under head coach Joakim Alexandersson, following their earlier 14-0 thrashing of Iraq and 2-0 win over Syria, and with the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 set to feature 12 teams—including automatic qualifiers North Korea, Japan, Australia, and hosts China—India’s historic qualification represents another monumental leap forward for women’s football development nationwide.
India Script History With 4-0 Rout of Malaysia, Booking Their Ticket to the U17 Women’s Asia Cup 2027
