Latest news with #SangitaBasfore
Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Sangita Basfore: India's midfield rock who also blasts goals
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 board in the dressing room. 'Yes! You can do it'. Ninety minutes later, midfield spearhead Sangita Basfore 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 qualification group and book a spot in the 2026 AFC Women's Asia Cup in Australia. Though the country has participated twice in the event—invited for the 2003 edition and were hosts in 2022, even though they withdrew due to Covid-19 outbreak in the camp–this is the first time they have progressed via the qualification system. At the heart of the triumph was Sangita scoring a worldie to put her side in front in the 29th minute and add a scruffy second to restore India's lead, which they then fiercely safeguarded. When the final whistle blew, coach Crispin Chhetri sank to the ground, something he says he rarely does. As did Sangita, uncontrollably shedding tears of joy. 'All the hard work, all the heartbreaks, all the previous matches we couldn't win, flashbacks of everything came all together. Finally we achieved it and we could come back home happy,' Sangita tells The Indian Express. 'I am a defensive midfielder,' the 28-year-old asserts. She loves that position as well, even though depositing the ball into the back of the net was the piece of action that drew her into the game, when she was a little girl at the academy run by her uncle and former Mohun Bagan player Bijay Basfore. It's a universal theme—most kids start playing football for the joy of scoring goals. 'At the time I loved shooting the ball. Shooting practice was my favourite pastime and I would just play barefoot with boys during their practice. I would hide their ball sometimes and play with it. This should be around 2007,' she remembers. Bijay's seasoned eyes saw a spark in her, a gift for the game. Convincing her mother was difficult. But they coaxed her, and the mother gave 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. This perspective kept her glued to the game during the tough years. In 2021, Sangita sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. A nightmare of an injury for most footballers, especially for box-to-box midfielders, who bust their lungs and cover an incredible part of the real estate. She underwent surgery in October that year and started the arduous task of rehabilitation. She couldn't touch a football for the next nine months. Worse, she had to foot the bill for the rehabilitation herself, from the salary she received from her job at the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). But the cruellest 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 couldn't understand how to handle myself. My mother was alone at home. Even today to a certain extent I worry about her when she is alone at home because parents tend not to tell their kids what is in their mind,' she adds. But she drew the energy to fight back from the game. 'A lot was happening at the time but I stayed strong, stayed focussed that I needed to play again and so my mother would be fine. It is because of this sport that we were able to find financial stability at home, I have been able to give my mother, my sister and her kids a good life. So at no point did I ever consider quitting,' she says. Sangita had made her international debut in 2015 but says she could never really fit into the forward line. Maymol Rocky, the then national coach, told her that she has the capability to play further back. Sangita started browsing the videos of Toni Kroos and Casemiro, defensive midfield virtuosos of the time. 'So I watched videos of how the likes of Casemiro and Toni Kroos would go about their job in that position. Even today I try to learn from them,' she says. She seamlessly shifted to the new role and impressed coach Chhetri, who had little hesitation in installing her as the side's beating heart in the qualifiers, along with her midfield partner Ratanbala Nongmaithem. 'Sangita is the kind of player who makes others around her look better. Because she takes that much load. Players like Sangita and Ratan deserve those two goals because they sacrifice everything. The things Sangita has gone through, recovered through all that pain, got back in the national team, in the starting eleven. She deserved to score those two important goals,' said Chhetri. And take India and herself into a dreamland.
Bangkok Post
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
Chaba Kaew's Asian Cup dream ends after defeat
Thailand were denied a place in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup finals in Australia after they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of India 2-1 at Chiang Mai's 700th Anniversary Stadium on Saturday night. The victory meant India finished with a perfect 12 points in Group B of the qualifiers as former champions Thailand missed out on the finals. With identical points and goal difference, both sides needed victory but the tie got off with action limited to the middle of the pitch. Thailand enjoyed more possession but India were solid defensively as they worked tirelessly to close down the spaces. However, the Indians made a good move when Anju Tamang cut the ball back for unmarked Sangita Basfore, who unleashed a shot from just outside the box past despairing Thai goalkeeper Tiffany Sornpao. Thailand upped the tempo but found India a resilient lot with the hosts limited to half chances as the South Asian side went into the break ahead. The Chaba Kaew, however, needed only two minutes in the second half as Chatchawan Rodthong had a stroke of luck. Her shot from distance took a wicked bounce to beat Indian goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi as the hosts levelled the score. India, however, refused to let Thailand build on the goal and their determination paid dividends in the 74th minute when defender Nirmala Devi floated her corner across with the ball finding Shilky Devi, who nodded it across for Basfore to head home past the Thai defence as India finally took their place at Australia 2026.
India.com
06-07-2025
- Sport
- India.com
India Beat Thailand 2-1 In Asia Cup Qualifier, One Step Closer To Australia
Sangita Basfore struck both goals as India defeated Thailand 2-1 to seal qualification to the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 here on Saturday. The victory meant India finished with a perfect 12 points in Group B of the Qualifiers as former champions Thailand missed out. This is the first time the Women in Blue have qualified for the continental cup through the qualifiers route, with their last appearance in the tournament coming in 2003. With identical points and goal difference, both sides needed a victory, but the tie got off to a cagey start with action limited to the middle of the pitch. Thailand enjoyed more possession, but India were solid defensively as they worked tirelessly to close down the spaces. Limited to counterattacks, India made one count in the 29th minute with a spectacular effort from Sangita. The move started in their half, with Anju Tamang cutting the ball back for the unmarked Sangita, who unleashed her shot from just outside the box past a despairing Tiffany Sornpao. Stung by the goal, Thailand upped their tempo but found India a resilient lot, with the hosts limited to half chances as the South Asian side went into the break ahead. Thailand, however, needed only two minutes into the restart to draw level with Chatchawan Rodthong enjoying a stroke of luck as her shot from distance took a wicked bounce to beat India goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi before settling in the net. India, however, refused to let Thailand build on the goal, and their determination paid dividends in the 74th minute. Defender Nirmala Devi floated her corner across the face of the goalmouth, with the ball finding Shilky Devi, who nodded it across for Sangita to head home past a static Thai defence as India took their place at Australia 2026.
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First Post
06-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Why India's qualification for 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup is historic
Indian women's football team made history by qualifying for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup on merit for the first time. A 2-1 win over Thailand in Chiang Mai sealed a landmark achievement for the Blue Tigresses. read more India defeated Thailand 2-1 to book their place in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Australia. It was a moment of pure joy and a historic one as tears rolled down and celebrations erupted after the final whistle blew at the stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 5 July. The Indian women's football team has qualified for the Asian Cup for the first time ever on merit. In previous appearances in 2003 and 2022, India either got in directly or hosted the event. However, the Blue Tigresses have done it this time and there were no shortcuts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The star of the night was Sangita Basfore, who scored both goals to lead India to victory in a match that was basically a winner-takes-all clash. Thailand, playing at home and ranked 24 places above India in the FIFA rankings, were favourites. But the Indian girls had other plans. More from Football Also Read: Why this win matters so much This win wasn't a regular victory, just about three points. It meant India topped Group B of the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers with 12 points from 4 games. It also ended Thailand's long-standing streak of qualifying for every Asian Cup since 2001. India's road to this point had already seen some big wins, including a 13-0 victory against Mongolia, a 4-0 victory against Timor-Leste, and a 5-0 victory against Iraq. However, Thailand was the real test given their current standing on the global stage in the women's game, and India passed with flying colours. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Read: This is a huge moment for Indian women's football. After heartbreak in 2022, when they had to withdraw due to COVID-19 despite being hosts, the team has finally earned their place through performance. Coach Crispin Chhetri and his squad can now proudly say they belong among Asia's best. With the 2026 AFC Asian Cup qualification secured, the next big goal will be the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027. India will look to qualify for the mega event as well.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
India stun Thailand, qualify for AFC Women's Asian Cup
Indian women's football team (AIFF) 'We did it!' India's star for the day, Sangita Basfore, could be heard crying to her teammates after the final whistle was blown in the 'knockout' Women's Asian Cup Qualifier fixture at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium on Saturday. And the tears of joy in the Indian women's eyes reflected the tall task they achieved in beating world No. 46 Thailand 2-1 in their last match of the qualifiers in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and booking a ticket to the Women's Asian Cup 2026 in Australia. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The two-time World Cuppers — boosted by a huge crowd cheering on the home side — showed their class with their trademark constant press. But the Indian defence stood strong and Basfore pounced on two of the few golden chances created by the visitors — one on either side of the break — to earn a memorable victory, India's first against the opponents who lie 24 rungs above them on the Fifa ladder. 'We played as a team and that's why I could score the two goals and qualify for the Asian Cup,' Basfore said at the postmatch presentation. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞! 𝑨𝑼𝑺𝑻𝑹𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑨 🇦🇺 🔥 #THAIND #BlueTigresses #WAC2026 #IndianFootball ⚽️ — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 5, 2025 The gritty defence led by Shilky Devi Hemam, Sweety Devi, Nirmala Devi and Sanju kept the hosts at bay while Panthoi Chanu under the bar made at least two brilliant saves to keep India in the game. But it was the Indians' day on the field as after receiving a pass from Anju Tamang outside the Thailand box, Basfore sent in a brilliant volley that left 'keeper Tiffany Sornpao flying but unable to reach the ball. Thailand came back strongly after the break as Chatchawan Rodthong equalised in the 47th minute. However, the Indian attack led by Manisha, Pyari Xaxa and Ratanbala Devi kept raiding the rival box and Basfore rose to the occasion in the 74th minute and nodded in a headed cut-back by Shilky Devi from a corner kick. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
