In football, India will mark their first appearance at the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup since 2005, ending a 21-year wait at this level as the U-17 national team kick off their campaign against Australia in China today. The match is scheduled to start at five PM India standard time. It is an another landmark moment for Indian women’s football.

More significantly, it completes a rare and historic sequence in 2026, with India’s third women’s Asian Cup appearance following the senior team and the U-20 side. Head coach Pamela Conti said the squad is excited and ready after months of preparation.

They arrive in China after a series of competitive tours-winning the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship in February, securing two victories against fellow Asian Cup qualifying side Myanmar in Yangon in March, and testing themselves in the three friendly games against Russia in Sochi in April.