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A powerhouse in 10 years - Former Australia striker Sarah Walsh on future of Indian women's football

ANI March 15, 2025 100 views

Sarah Walsh, a former Australian footballer, believes India's women's football team has remarkable potential to become a global powerhouse within the next decade. Speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, Walsh highlighted India's current ranking and the promising pathways for growth. She emphasized that strategic investment and potential Olympic hosting could accelerate the team's development. Walsh sees significant engagement potential, particularly given the strong cultural connections between India and Australia.

"I think they're going to be a powerhouse in 10 years." - Sarah Walsh, Football Australia
Bengaluru, March 15: Sarah Walsh, former Australia footballer and the current head of Women's Football at Football Australia, believed that India is on the path to becoming a women's football powerhouse within the next 10 years, as per the release from RCB.

Key Points

1

India currently ranked 67th globally in women's football

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Infrastructure and participation key to future success

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Walsh sees Olympics as potential transformative opportunity

Walsh spoke with Isa Guha and former women's footballer and FIFA Council Member Moya Todd on Friday at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit at the Padukone Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence.

Walsh, who represented Australia at the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, stressed how she saw tremendous potential for the Indian women's football team's growth on the global stage.

"I am a little nervous about India in the future of football. I think they're going to be a powerhouse in 10 years. If you look at world sport through the men's sporting lens, the gap might be a lot bigger when you talk about football, but it is absolutely not in cricket. In the women's landscape, there are fewer years to correct. In football, the Indian women's team are ranked 13 in Asia and 67 in the world. India are ranked 67 among the 211 countries that play football," Walsh said as quoted by the RCB press release.

She continued that the sport would receive a massive filip if India were to win the bid to host the 2036 Olympics. "It's not all about investment. If India is to get the Olympics, then that's a pathway. The infrastructure is there, the participation numbers will be there. Where that investment goes means India can very soon close that gap in football," she added.

India hosted the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2022, and Australia is all set to host the next edition in 2026. Walsh, who won the 2010 edition of the tournament as a player, said she looked forward to India making a significant impact on the big stage.

"For the Women's Asian Cup that we're hosting in Australia next year, I can tell you that India is on top of my list as a priority in terms of a success factor for the tournament. There are 1.3 million people in Australia who identify with Indian culture. We have 850,000 tickets to sell, and I know India was influential in the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup being successful. Not just in terms of numbers, it's about how they engage and follow their team. The Indian women's team has every chance to go to the Women's Asian Cup and to actually do something really good."

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