India’s U-17 women opened their AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 14-0 demolition of Iraq in Selayang, Malaysia. Anushka Kumari scored five and India led 7-0 at half-time, setting up a Group E run where only the winner advances to China 2027.
Selayang, Malaysia: Seven goals before the break and seven after it left Iraq with no way back at MP Selayang Stadium on Monday, and left India with a record scoreline to carry into a group where only first place counts.
Anushka sets the pace
Anushka Kumari led the rout with five goals, two before half-time and three after it. She had company all over the pitch. Silky Devi Sorokhaibam and Abhista Basnett each scored twice, while Thandamoni Baskey, Nira Chanu Longjam, Pritika Barman, Joya and Alva Devi Senjam added one apiece. Eight different players found the net, a sign of how freely the Young Tigresses created chances once Iraq were stretched.
A new high for the age group
The margin is the biggest India have recorded at this level. The previous high-water marks were the 12-0 wins over the UAE in 2014 and Sri Lanka in 2018. The result also arrives after a promising stretch for the group, which reached the quarter-finals of the continental tournament earlier this year before losing 3-0 to China.
Elsewhere in the group on the opening day, Malaysia edged Syria 1-0, so the hosts will present a sterner test than Iraq did.
Only first place will do
The qualifiers are played as eight single round-robin groups, and only the group winners advance to join the four teams already assured of a place in China: defending champions DPR Korea, runners-up Japan, and semi-finalists Australia and China PR. That makes every point precious, and every goal a possible tie-breaker.
India’s next two fixtures are against Syria on October 8 and Malaysia on October 11, the latter set for a 6:30 pm IST kick-off.
Result: India U-17 women 14-0 Iraq U-17 women (half-time 7-0)
Scorers: Anushka Kumari (5), Silky Devi Sorokhaibam (2), Abhista Basnett (2), Thandamoni Baskey, Nira Chanu Longjam, Pritika Barman, Joya, Alva Devi Senjam
Competition: AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 qualifiers, Group E
Venue: MP Selayang Stadium, Selayang, Malaysia
