New Delhi, March 22 The India U20 women's team has made "significant improvements" since qualifying, head coach Joakim Alexandersson said, expressing confidence that the team can compete strongly against Asia's top teams in the upcoming AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup in Thailand.
The Young Tigresses, who arrived in Bangkok well in advance of the tournament, will begin their Group C campaign against Japan on April 2, followed by matches against Australia (April 5) and Chinese Taipei (April 8).
The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals, with the final four stage offering qualification for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Poland later this year.
Reflecting on the team's journey since the qualifiers in August, Alexandersson said the team has improved across all areas.
"There has been significant improvement. I've seen better ball movement, quicker passing, and more clarity in the final third. Even defensively, we are more organised, and the communication, especially from the goalkeepers, has improved. Every area we identified for improvement has progressed," he said.
Placed in a challenging group, Alexandersson acknowledged the quality of the opponents but stressed the importance of belief.
"It's definitely a tough group. Japan is one of the best teams in the world at this level, and Australia is also very strong and physical. It's important that we respect these opponents but don't fear them. We want to play with confidence, not just defend, but also keep possession and express ourselves," he said.
India's preparations have included exposure to varied playing styles, with friendlies against Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan providing contrasting challenges.
The coach added that despite not being the most physically imposing side, India has focused on tactical discipline and defensive aggression.
"Even though we may not be the biggest team physically, we've worked a lot on defensive aggression and positioning. We've focused on engaging the opponent early rather than just reacting. It's about playing with courage, intelligence, and belief," he said.
Having reached Bangkok 13 days ahead of their opening fixture, the team has had time to acclimatise and began training on March 21.
"First and foremost, I expect total commitment from the girls. We need to work hard, fight for every duel, and stay disciplined defensively. We must trust the work we’ve done and play with confidence, both with and without the ball. If we can do that, I believe we have a good chance in all three matches," Alexandersson said.