The U-17 women's football team from India achieved their first quarterfinal appearance in 21 years through their victories at the U-17 Women's Asian Cup. The team secured its place after a strong 4-0 win against Lebanon in the final Group B match on Friday.
The match began with Preetika Berman scoring the opening goal for India six minutes after kickoff. Nigeria maintained control of the game until Alva Devi scored their second goal in the 36th minute. Zoya scored a goal for India which increased their lead during the second half when she netted her goal in the 72nd minute. Preetika scored again in the 85th minute to complete the victory.
India finished their Group B matches with 3 points which resulted in them placing third in the group. Japan secured the top position with 9 points while Australia finished second with 4 points. The three teams advanced to the knockout stage of the competition.
The result brings major progress to Indian football. The team reached the quarterfinals for the last time in 2005. The current group of players established historic progress through their tournament results which led to India's first achievement in 21 years.
The upcoming round gives India a chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. The team will secure its spot in the global tournament if it reaches the semifinals of the Asian Cup.
