Indian women's football team eyeing a QF spot in Asian Games

The Indian women's football team is aiming for at least reaching the quarterfinals in the next month's Asian Games to be held in Incheon, South Korea.
"I think we should qualify for the quarterfinals. I am very positive. Of course, we want to go the distance, that's what everybody plays for but we are setting our goals. Quarterfinal is a must and we take it forward from there," Indian women's team head coach Tarun Roy told PTI here today.
Roy, who will be coaching the women's national team for the first time, said it will be challenge for him but he is up for the job.

"This is a challenge for me because this is the first time I am coaching a women's national team. I think I can do 100 per cent for my country," he said.
Indian women last played in the Games back in 1998 in Bangkok where they failed to qualify from their group. This will be only their second appearance.
Roy admitted that the team hasn't played much overseas which puts them at a slight disadvantage but said they would improve their ranking in the next couple of years.

"We had not participated in any international games. Only in the SAFF Cup where we won the gold medal. It is slightly a drawback for the Indian women's team we have not played so much abroad. Even in last few years, national championships were not held. I think you will see the coming years that we will improve our FIFA rankings also," he said.

India are in Group A in the Asian Games along with last edition's bronze medalists South Korea, Thailand and Maldives.
As per the draw released by the organisers, India are to take on Maldives first on September 14 as the football competition starts before the Games opening on September 19.
The Indian women's team play against their higher ranked opponents and hosts South Korea on September 17 before taking on Thailand on September 21 to complete the preliminary group phase.