Indian Women's Football Teams Shine and Struggle in International Friendlies

The Indian senior women's national team triumphed over Hertha BSC Frauen with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of Grace Dangmei's goal during their Turkey tour. Meanwhile, the U17 team faced a tough 0-2 defeat against Bangladesh in the SAFF U19 Women's Championship, showcasing mixed fortunes for Indian women's football.

The Indian senior women's national football team celebrated a significant victory against Germany's Hertha BSC Frauen with a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to Grace Dangmei's decisive goal in the 37th minute. This match took place at the S&B Sport Football Complex in Serik, Antalya, Turkey, as part of their training to gear up for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026.

The Blue Tigresses are honing their skills in Antalya before shifting their training base to Perth, Australia, in early February, where they will kick off their Asian Cup campaign against Vietnam on March 4. Prior to that, they are scheduled for two more friendlies against Russian team Zvezda-2005 Perm on February 4, followed by FK Csikszereda Miercurea Ciuc of Romania on February 7.

Conversely, the U17 national team experienced a challenging outing in the SAFF U19 Women's Championship, succumbing to a 0-2 defeat against Bangladesh, with goals from Arpita Biswas and Alpi Akter. The Indian U17s, competing in a higher age group to prepare for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup, fielded a slightly altered lineup from their previous victory against Nepal, with changes in midfield and forward positions.