NEW DELHI: Indian women’s football path-breaker N Bala Devi feels the team has enough quality to do well in the ongoing AFC Asian Cup and secure a maiden qualification to next FIFA World Cup.
Bala Devi remains the country’s only female footballer to sign a professional contract in Europe’s top-flight. She represented the Scottish club Rangers.
India were held to a goal-less draw by lower-ranked Iran in their tournament opener and now faces a must-win game against Chinese Taipei, but the 31-year-old striker, who has missed the tournament due to her recovery from a surgery, remains optimistic.
“I have confidence in our squad and what they can achieve. I am positive about our chances, especially because we are playing at home,” she told FIFA.com.
“Can we qualify for the World Cup? I think so. It’s been tough for the last two or three years to test ourselves in competitive matches. But I feel our level is high enough to compete and that we have enough quality to make it through.”
—PTI

Press Trust of India