India goes down to Hong Kong in women’s futsal international debut

India’s tryst with women’s futsal in the international arena didn’t produce a result to feel too elated about, but the team did display a kind of passion and perseverance that has the ingredients to take the game forward in India.

The Indian girls lost 0-5 to Hong Kong in their debut match in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers in Group B at Yogyakarta’s Among Rogo Sports Hall in Indonesia on Wednesday.

Playing their first-ever match, the rookie Indians dished out an encouraging exhibition of cohesive futsal in the 20 minutes of the first half to trail by a goal before finding it difficult in the second session to sustain against a more experienced side that stood 31st in the FIFA rankings.

While skillful Cheung Wai Ki, also a football international, played the key role in Hong Kong’s victory with a classy hat-trick, Wai Yuen Ting and Kung Yuet Charis found the other two goals.

It was a day of reckoning for the Indian girls. Wide-eyed they were because it was their first step on the big stage. At the same time, they rarely lost their focus and remained true to what they were instructed to do.

Khushbu Saroj in the middle was a tireless trier and Drishti Pant caught attention because of her clever movement moments after she appeared on the pitch.

They were not just the two, but everyone else tried their best to contribute; they knew they were entering the Indian women’s futsal hall of fame that would stay forever.

India’s goalkeeper Tanvi Vijaykumar was expectedly the busiest player in the court. She encountered a barrage of attacks from her rivals and frequently made some incredible saves.

Indian coach Joshuah Vaz called for a time-out at the stroke of the 10th minute to leave some quick instructions. India’s clean slate approach was finally broken in the 13th minute when Cheung Wai Ki deceived Tanvi for the first time.

What made the difference in the second half was the sheer experience of the Hong Kong players. Rather, they cashed in on Indians’ lack of experience.

Hat-trick girl Cheung Wai Ki is a smooth operator, her touch and defense-splitting aggression kept the Indians so much rooted in their own half that they hardly had a chance to test the rival custodian.

But the defense too was breached more than once; sometimes from a rebound or with a precise volley that widened the gap as the match progressed.

India play their next match against hosts Indonesia on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 14:30 IST.