Before their game against Thailand, India’s Final Match of the AFC Women’s Asia Cup Qualifiers Last Week at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium, they scribbled a message on a mother. “Yes! You can do it”. Ninety Minutes Later, Midfield Spearhead Sangita Basrant Says, They Felt It Needed Some Tweaking, Maybe To Make It Read: “Yes, We DID It”.
Ranked 70th and largely obscure, they had stunned 46th-placed thailand to win the quality group and book a spot in the 2026 Afc women asia cup in australia. Though the country has participated twice in the event-Invited for the 2003 Edition and Were hosts in 2022, even thought they dodrew to Covid-19 outbreak in the camp-thirts is the first Time of the time. Qualification System.
At the heart of the triumph was sangita scoring a world to put her side in front in the 29th minute and add a scruffy second to restore India’s led, which then fiercely safeguarded. When the final whistle blew, coach crispin chhetri sank to the ground, something he sayss he rarely doesn’t. As did Sangita, uncontrollably shedding tears of joy. “All the hard work, all the heartbreaks, all the previous matches we have ‘flashbacks of everything came all together. Express.
“I am a defensive midfielder,” the 28-yar-brod asserts. She loves that position as well, even something depositing the ball into the back Basouth.
It’s a universal theme – Chhods Start Playing Football For The Joy of Scoring Goals. “At the time I love shooting the ball. Shooting practice was my favorite pastime and I would just play barefoot with their practice. 2007, ”She remembers.
Bijay’s seasoned eyes saw a spark in her, a gift for the game. Convincing her mother was differently. But they coaxed her, and the mother give her Rs 250 to Buy boots and such stuff. She proudly says it was the last time she took money from her Parents to Play Football. “Football Gave me a lot and because of this sport, I managed to give my family financial stability,” Says Sangita.
Injury, grief
This person kept her glued to the game during the touch year. In 2021, Sangita Sustained An Anterior Crucciate Ligament (ACL) Injury. A nightmare of an injury for most footballers, especially for box-to-box midfielders, who bust their lungs and cover part of the real estate. She underwent surgery in October that year and started the arduous task of rehabilitation. She could not touchball for the next nine months. Worse, she had to move the bill for the rehabilitation herself, from the salary she may receive from the job at the sashastra sesb).
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But the cruelte blow of all came shortly after she returned from surgery. “My father passed away shortly after I got back home after my surgery,” says Sangita.
“At the time I just have to understand how to handle myceelf. My mother was at home. Is in their mind, “She adds.
But she drew the energy to fight back from the game. “A lot was happy at the time but I stayed strong, stayed focussed that I needed to play again and so my mother would be fine. Been to give my mother and her kids a good life.
Turning Point
Sangita had made her international debut in 2015 but says she can never really fit into the forward line. Maymol Rocky, The National Coach, Told Her That She’s Capability to Play Further Back. Sangita Started Browsing the videos of Toni Kroos and casemiro, defensive midfield virtuosos of the time.
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“So I watched videos of how the likes of casemiro and toni kroos would go about their job in that position.
She seamlessly shifted to the new role and impressed coach chhatri, who had little hesitation in installing her as the side of the qualifiers, along with her midfield partner Ratanbala nongmaithem. “Sangita is the kind of player who makes others around her look better. Through, recovered all that pain, got back in the starting eleven. And take India and Herself into a dreamland.