Win over Thailand gave me recognition: Basfore

“From 2015 to 2025, we had a dream,” Sangita Basfore said. Our batch had set a lot of targets: qualifying for Olympics, AFC Women’s Asian Cup and even World Cup, she said. “After the final whistle at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, I wept because I remembered snatches of those conversations.”

- Dhiman Sarkar

In an international career that is 10 years and 70 matches old, Basfore picked the 2-1 win against Thailand on July 5 as her best. “Because of that match, everyone got to know me,” she told HT in an interview on a video call on Thursday when India climbed seven places to 63 in the FIFA rankings.

India’s ascent in the rankings happened because they had tamed Thailand, ranked 46th, in their lair; a result that meant a first-time qualification for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals. Switched from a holding midfielder to No.8 by new India coach Crispin Chhetri, Basfore got both goals but for her, the team was the real star.

And by team she included all those who had dreamt with her. This was as much for Aditi Chauhan, Asha di (Ashalata Devi), Dalima Chhibber, even Bembem Devi, Basfore’s favourite Indian player, who have either retired or are left out of the India squad as it was for Sanju Yadav and Sweety Devi who were in Thailand, she said.