The Indian U17 Women’s football team reached Thailand on Sunday with big expectations in the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualification Round-2, after topping their group in the first round.

The players are very much excited as they travelled to Thailand and look to renew their qualification bout which the Indian side cleared with flying colours in the previous round.

In April, the Indian women’s U-17 team topped their Round 1 group and made it to Round 2 of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers for the first time. In the three-team group played in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, Team India won both their matches against the hosts Kyrgyz Republic and Myanmar and finished with six points.

India is placed alongside the Republic of Korea, and Iran and hosts Thailand in Group A. The top two teams will book their berths at the final tournament to be held in Indonesia in April 2024.

India’s head coach Priya P.V, who has recently been named the AIFF Women’s Coach of the Year, is also aware of the overwhelming enthusiasm that is flowing underneath her squad and said she took it as a positive sign. “For these girls, this AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers is the second major tournament since SAFF. The excitement they feel and the emotions involved in it are completely different.

“My girls are well-prepared and consider themselves cut out for the job. So they are highly enthusiastic about showcasing their skills and giving it their all in every match. They’re just waiting to go to the pitch," said the Indian coach with confidence.