India’s Senior Women's national team are drawn into Group C of the AFC Women’s Olympics Qualifiers Round 2 alongside Japan, Vietnam and Uzbekistan. The draw ceremony took place at Asian Football Confederation (AFC) House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 18th May 2023. Twelve teams qualified from the first round were divided into three groups of four. The winners from each of the groups will progress to the third round along with one best runner-up to determine the final two teams going to the 2024 Summer Olympic women's football tournament in Paris. Matches for the second round will be played in October 2023.
Qualification
India progressed to the second round of the AFC Women’s Olympics Qualifiers by cruising past the Kyrgyz Republic in Round 1 from Group G. The Blue Tigresses scored nine goals without conceding a single one in a dominating performance in both the fixtures against the hosts. Anju Tamang scored a first-half brace while Soumya Guguloth, Shilky Devi and Renu Rani added theirs to round up a 5-0 thumping win in the first match. Two days later, Tamang and Renu were once again on the scoresheet with Sandhiya scoring twice this time for a 4-0 win to seal qualification to the next round in emphatic style. The matches were played in April this year.
Group C
Japan
Vietnam
Uzbekistan
India
The competition is intense in the Round 2 of the AFC Women’s Olympics Qualifiers and India are well-aware of the challenges they will face. Thomas Dennerby’s side are handed a tough group with Olympics regulars, Japan to face and top sides in Vietnam and Uzbekistan. Winning the group will be a far cry instead the Blue Tigresses will aim to finish as the best runners position in the tournament. That battle will also not be easy both in their group and nations like Chinese Taipei, Philippines and even South Korea or even 2022 Women’s Asian Cup winners China in the mix.
India will take on Japan in a huge clash in their opening match of the second round qualifiers.One of Asia’s powerhouses in women’s football, Japan made it to the quarterfinals of the 2020 Olympics held in 2021 and into the semifinals in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup hosted by India last year. Japan will also compete in the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. They qualified directly to Round 2 of the Olympics Qualifiers and undoubtedly, a massive opposition for India to handle in the group.
Vietnam possesses another tough challenge for the Blue Tigresses and will also play the Women’s World Cup before the qualifiers. Like India, the Vietnamese came through Round 1 beating Nepal 7-1 over two matches. They also won the gold in the Southeast Asian Games beating Malaysia in the final this month. India so far played Vietnam six times in their history but failed to win any of them. The only time they avoided defeat was the 1-1 draw in the last meeting played in 2019.
India most recently met Uzbekistan in a friendly two months ago that went down to the wire in preparation for the Olympics Qualifiers. The Blue Tigresses twice responded after going down in the match but could not restrict the hosts from snatching a late winner in the thrilling game that ended 3-2 at Tashkent. It is against them India could think of putting up a commendable fight but only one victory in 11 meetings with eight losses is not an encouraging record.
Fixtures
26 October 2023
Japan vs India (15:30 IST)
29 October 2023
India vs Vietnam (15:30 IST)
1 November 2023
Uzbekistan vs India (17:30 IST)
