Ashalata Devi: World Cup Dream Alive, Grassroots Key for Indian Women's Football
Football
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News18•17-01-2026, 18:09
Ashalata Devi: World Cup Dream Alive, Grassroots Key for Indian Women's Football
- •Indian football star Ashalata Devi believes the FIFA Women's World Cup dream is still alive for the country, emphasizing the need for sustained grassroots development.
- •She highlighted that all three national teams (U-17, U-19, senior) have qualified for their respective AFC Asian Championships, making 2026 a crucial year.
- •Ashalata, a highly capped player, noted that while the senior team has progressed, it still falls short of world-class standards, attributing this gap to a lack of early grassroots training.
- •She stressed that starting football training at ages five or six is crucial for better skill acquisition, as it becomes difficult after 17-18 years.
- •Ashalata also launched the Ashalata Devi Football Festival (ADFF) with Aditi Chauhan in Imphal to combine football training with education, ensuring young players don't have to choose between them.
Why It Matters: Ashalata Devi asserts the World Cup dream is alive, stressing grassroots development and state association involvement.
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