Top three India U20 players to watch out for in AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers

The India U20 women’s team are in Group D of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers.

India U20 women’s team will kick-start their AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers on Wednesday (6 August 2025) when they participate in the group stages. The Indian side will have to face competition from the likes of Indonesia, Myanmar and Turkmenistan, playing three matches in the group stages.

The India U20 women’s team will have to finish on top of their group or at least in a strong second position to qualify for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. Joakim Alexandersson has worked hard with the young Indian players for quite some time and will need to attract the best performances from them in the qualifiers.

Fortunately for him, he has a squad full of quality players at his disposal, and that includes some highly talented stars who have already played for the Indian women’s national team as well.

Here we look at the three India U20 women’s players to watch out for in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers campaign.

Also Read: India name 23-member squad for AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in August 2025

3. Monisha Singha

Despite being 18 years old, Monisha Singha has already taken major steps to raise up the Indian football ladder. She has already debuted for the Indian women’s team and has impressed for Garhwal United FC as well.

Singha is a proactive, versatile player who can fit into a variety of roles, something that can significantly benefit the India U20 women’s side. She can play in midfield or even as a forward if necessary, and the unpredictability around Singha’s playing style can help her torment India’s opponents.

Singha will need to be efficient with their final product, especially in terms of nailing her final passes and converting whatever chances she gets to give India U20 that edge in the U20 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Monisha has to use her high energy levels and exuberant nature to raise up the hunger in the Indian side and make them even more dangerous in their attacking transitions.

2. Sulanjana Raul

The East Bengal forward has been a breakthrough star in the Indian women’s football scene and impressed the national coaches with her dedication on the pitch.

Raul is also one of the players to have already played for the Indian women’s senior team and already has a lot of experience in herself heading into the AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers. She has scored two goals in as many matches for the India U-20 team so far, maintaining an impressive consistency with her final product.

The 18-year-old forward is a real livewire on the pitch, who can make herself extremely difficult to defend against with her clever off-the-ball movement and ability to get into the right places at the right time.

Raul will need to be at her ruthless best in terms of finishing off chances to amplify India’s goal threat and help them produce some thrilling attacking football.

1. Sibani Nongmeikapam

Sibani Nongmeikapam has already become an experienced player at the international level for India’s youth sides, despite only being 18. She has already debuted for the India senior women’s team and has been impressing in the Indian Women’s League over the last few years too.

Sibani spent a few years at East Bengal before leaving in 2024, scoring a few important goals for them. She scored in her debut for the Indian women’s team on her debut against Maldives, and has also impressed in her appearances for the India U-20 women’s team.

She has scored three goals in five appearances for the India U20 women’s side in the past, which includes some really impressive goals as well. Sibani is a tough player to mark because of her ability to sneak past defenders and make her way into the key scoring areas.

She needs to link up well with her teammates to help India play some thrilling attacking football, but mostly needs to be clinical in the attacking third to help India win their group.

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