Shillong, Apr 28: The India U-17 women’s national team, after a brief camp in Gurgaon, reached Suzhou in China on Monday ahead of the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
India, who qualified for the tournament after 21 years, will begin their campaign with a match against Australia on 2nd May followed by Japan on 5th May and Lebanon on 8th May.
The squad contains two Meghalayans – midfielder Bonifilia Shullai and defender Alisha Lyngdoh (pictured back row second and fourth left).
The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams among all three groups will make it to the quarterfinals. The four semifinalists will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026.
The AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup will be streamed live on the AFC Asian Cup YouTube Channel.
Under Italian head coach Pamela Conti, who was appointed in January, India have had a continuous training camp of more than three months, the bulk of which was held in Bengaluru. Being an U-17 side, they won the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship title in February and won two friendly games against Myanmar in Yangon in March. Earlier this month they played three friendly matches against Russia in Sochi but lost all three, though these provided valuable experience of playing strong opponents ahead of the Asian challenge.
After returning from Russia, the Young Tigresses continued their training camp in Gurgaon from 20th to 26th April before departing for China.
India squad:
Goalkeepers: Munni, Surajmuni Kumari, Tamphasana Devi Konjengbam
Defenders: Abhista Basnett, Alena Devi Sarangthem, Alisha Lyngdoh, Divyani Linda, Elizabed Lakra, Joyshini Chanu Huidrom, Ritu Badaik, Taniya Devi Tonambam
Midfielders: Alva Devi Senjam, Bonifilia Shullai, Julan Nongmaithem, Olivia Chanu Ningthoujam, Pritika Barman, Redima Devi Chingkhamayum, Thandamoni Baskey
Forwards: Anushka Kumari, Anwita Raghuraman, Joya, Pearl Fernandes, Valaina Fernandes
Support staff: Pamela Conti (head coach), Vincenzo Conti and Nivetha Ramadoss (assistant coaches), Mario Aguiar (goalkeeping coach), Amit Yadav (strength and conditioning coach)
India fixtures:
vs Australia, 2nd May, 5PM India time
vs Japan, 5th May, 5PM India time
vs Lebanon, 8th May, 1PM India time
(All India Football Federation photo)
