India’s premature end in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup is now history. What started as a journey of hope ended as a nightmare, after three defeats, a group stage exit and sixteen goals conceded.
«We were confident but sometimes we have no control over it. But I was happy with the fact that the players gave their best. That is the most important thing,» said India’s assistant coach Crispin Chettri. Sports stars.
Crispin had guided Odisha FC to the Indian Women’s League title in the 2023-25 season and took over as India’s captain in February 2025.
However, the lack of a Pro license – mandatory for the Asian Cup or qualifying campaigns – saw him serve as coach in an unofficial capacity, as Priya PV was named coach on the team sheets.
However, he was the architect of India’s historic qualifying campaign, which saw the Blue Tigresses qualify for the Asian Cup on merit for the first time, beating higher-ranked Thailand.
However, instead of a promotion (an extension), Crispin was demoted as assistant coach under new head coach Amelia Valverde just six weeks before the tournament.
“It seemed very unfair to my coaching staff and me. But having said that, if the results had been like that under me, I would have regretted it too,” says Crispin.
«Then there would have been a perception that if we had had someone else (in charge), the outcome might have been different. So I think it was right to bring her, but it could have happened a little earlier,» he adds.
On the other hand, Vietnam and Japan, two of India’s group stage opponents, had appointed their coaches well in advance.
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Nadeshiko’s manager Nils Nielsen was appointed in December 2024, while Vietnam tactician Mai Duc Chung has worked with the women’s team in various capacities over the past decade.
«It’s very difficult for a coach to understand the players (in such a short time). Whatever information she needed from me, Priya PV or the staff, it was all passed on. But maybe it was too short a period before she arrived,» says Crispin.
«Sometimes when changes happen (too late), players get confused. Even we coaches took time to adjust,» he added.
Crispin was also troubled by the injury to Anju Tamang just before the tournament, a first-team regular and member of India’s 2022 Asian Cup campaign.
«We had the belief, but sometimes we can’t control it. I think 50 percent of the reason for our result was due to Anju’s late injury because she was one of the strongest and oldest players in the camp who could lead and communicate. We had built our attack only around Anju. So her absence also hindered everything,» he said.
India needed to reach the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup to meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the Asian Games, which will be held in Japan between September 19 and October 4. A special exemption from central government could still give the team approval, and Crispin believes this should happen.
«The government should send the team because in the Asian Games we get good teams. Sometimes you have to play with the best to become the best. Right now we should not think about losing, but about playing against the best team,» he said.
«I was very happy when the federation sent the under-17 team to the under-19 SAFF championship. This is how we have to move forward. We have to change our approach in this sense, and the federation has to start believing in the young people,» he noted.
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India has scheduled a tour to Kenya in April where it will play in a four-nation friendly tournament with hosts Australia and Malawi. It will compete in the SAFF Championship on home soil in May.
But will Crispin continue?
«My contract expires in March. I have already created a bubble of almost fifty players in the 21 to 22 age group. If we focus on them, we will be ready for the future,» he said.
However, India are likely to continue with Valverde at the helm. The Costa Rican coach was initially contracted until the Asian Cup, but it is believed an extension is already on the table.
Questions about Valverde’s appointment were perhaps an obvious topic of conversation after this Asian Cup. The All India Football Federation hopes this will not happen in the next qualifying cycle.
Published on March 22, 2026
