Xaxa expects more from India
Chiang Mai: Pyari Xaxa believes India’s free-scoring 13-0 win against Mongolia is just what her team needed to fuel their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers Group B campaign.
Xaxa netted twice in the first before adding three more after the break, while Priyadharshini Selladurai and Soumya Guguloth also bagged braces with Rimpa Haldar, Sangita Basfore, Dangmei Grace and Malavika Prasad adding to the tally.
The 28-year-old forward had already made her mark earlier this year with a hat-trick in a friendly against the Maldives, helping India cruise to a 14-0 win in January.
Her ability to find the net consistently has been a major asset to the Blue Tigresses, both internationally and on the domestic front with Indian Women's League’s side Odisha FC.
“My team did well in terms of the passing game and that’s why I was able to score the goals,” said Xaxa.
“And since we’re following our game plan, we’ll try to win the next match as well. Winning this past match really motivates our team going forward.”
India will next face Timor-Leste on Sunday, and head coach Crispin Chhetri will be expecting his team to replicate the same level of intensity.
In the other Group B fixture, Iraq were held to a 0-0 draw by Timor-Leste, with head coach Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail eager to get their campaign back on track when they face Mongolia on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Timor-Leste head coach Emral Bustamam will have his hands full as his side prepare to take on Thailand, also on Thursday.
