India suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat against Vietnam in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 opener, conceding in stoppage time despite debutant Sanfida Nongrum’s equaliser and a resilient display from goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu.

Sangita Basfore views the AFC Women’s Asian Cup not as the destination but as a stepping stone to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. From her decisive goals in qualification to India’s structured preparation in Australia, the midfielder remains focused on taking the Blue Tigresses one step closer to the global stage.