Shillong, Mar 20: The Indian team, including Meghalaya’s own Ribansi Jamu (pictured front row, second right), have arrived in Thailand today morning ahead of the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
The Young Tigresses, who qualified for the Asian Cup after 20 years, will have 13 days to acclimatise to local conditions in Bangkok before their first Group C match against Japan on 2nd April at 6:30PM India time.
India will then take on Australia on 5th April at 2:30PM India time and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) on 8th April at 2:30PM India time. All three matches will take place in Pathum Thani, to the north of Bangkok.
The top two teams in the group and the two best third-placed teams among all three groups will make it to the quarterfinals. Further, the four quarterfinal winners will qualify for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026.
India, under coach Joakim Alexandersson, had begun their current training camp in Bengaluru in January after the conclusion of the first phase of the Indian Women’s League. Later, they had a one-month camp in Sweden, where they played five friendly matches against the senior teams of Swedish club sides. After their return from Scandinavia, the Young Tigresses continued training in Kolkata, from where they departed for the Thailand capital in the wee hours of Friday.
Alexandersson will announce the final 23-member squad closer to the tournament.
Ribansi was part of the squad that made it through the U-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers last August, though she supported the team from the bench. She has been regularly selected for the U-20 squad by Alexandersson but goalkeeping duties are almost always entrusted to Monalisha Devi Moirangthem, the favoured keeper who has even represented the senior women’s team.
However, Ribansi did get some game time in Indian colours when the team travelled to Kazakhstan in October for a couple of friendlies. The month before that, she represented Meghalaya at the Senior Women’s National Football Championship 2025-26, playing two matches.
India contingent:
Goalkeepers: Monalisha Devi Moirangthem, Nandini, Ribansi Jamu
Defenders: Alka Indwar, Cindy Remruatpuii Colney, Nishima Kumari, Remi Thokchom, Ruchi Yadav, Sahena TH, Shubhangi Singh, Thoibisana Chanu Toijam
Midfielders: Anju Chanu Kayenpaibam, Arina Devi Nameirakpam, Bhumika Devi Khumukcham, Monisha Singha, Neha, Pooja, Shruti Kumari
Forwards: Babita Kumari, Deepika Pal, Lhingdeikim, Shilji Shaji, Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam, Sulanjana Raul
Support staff: Joakim Alexandersson (head coach), Paromita Sit (assistant coach), Hameed KK (goalkeeping coach)
(All India Football Federation photo)