Sangita Basfore Sees Asian Cup as Gateway to the World Stage

For many, qualifying for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 would have been the achievement. For Sangita Basfore, it was only the beginning.

Long before the final whistle against Thailand confirmed India’s place in the continental showpiece, Sangita had already imagined something bigger. The Asian Cup was never her final destination. In her mind, it was a bridge to the FIFA Women's World Cup.

That clarity shaped her campaign. When India sealed qualification, powered by Sangita’s decisive two-goal performance against Thailand in the final qualifier, it did not feel like closure. It felt like the real mission had just begun.

Now in Australia, where the Blue Tigresses arrived earlier than the rest of the competition to maximise preparation time, that mindset continues to define the squad’s approach.

“From the start of the Asian Cup qualifiers last year, the whole team have had one thought, which is to qualify for the World Cup. But that is just one step. Right now, our time has come, and our first match is on March 4, so all our focus is on that. If we win that, our confidence will grow, and the same motivation will continue for the rest of the games. Everyone in the team is clear about taking it game by game.”

The preparation has been deliberate and structured. The squad have spent 45 days together, including an extended training camp in Türkiye before flying to Australia. The transition from winter cold to Australian warmth was more than a change in scenery. It was a tactical decision.

“It has been very important. We have been together for 45 days. Earlier, we were preparing in Turkey, where it was very cold, but here the weather is completely different, much warmer. So coming early gave us a very good opportunity to adapt. At the start, it was difficult, but now we are getting used to the heat and playing better. So it was a good decision to come early and get time to adjust to the conditions.”

Her two goals against Thailand remain one of the defining moments of the qualification journey. Yet Sangita refuses to frame it as an individual milestone.

“That was not just my effort, it was the whole team’s hard work. If the team had not given me the right passes, maybe I could not have scored any goals. So the credit goes to the entire team, the staff, and all the players. After that, there were many interviews and attention, but for me it was just part of the experience. It was a good moment, and now I just want to keep performing like this for the national team and move forward in my career.”

Belief, she insists, was present even during the official draw in Sydney last July. The scale of the tournament did not intimidate the squad. Instead, it reinforced their shared objective.

“Even then we never felt that we could not do it, and that belief is still the same. Whether at the dining table or on the training ground, we always talk about our plan to go step by step. To reach the World Cup, we have to play at least four matches first, so right now the focus is only on the first game.”

Under the guidance of new head coach Amelia Valverde, the team have also embraced a fresh leadership dynamic. For Sangita, the key element has been fairness and opportunity within the squad.

“Coach Amelia has been here for over a month now. Every coach has different thoughts about how to treat players and how to make them play. What I like about this coach is that she gives chances to everyone and treats all players equally. That is very good for the team. So far, we have mostly seen things in training, and now we need to show it in matches. The coach is doing her job, preparing us, and now it is up to us to perform on the field.”

There is a pattern in the way Sangita speaks. Qualification is acknowledged, but never celebrated as a peak. Preparation is detailed, but never dramatized. The focus always moves forward.

For Sangita Basfore, the Asian Cup is not the story. It is the doorway.

And the dream remains one step ahead.