India U17 football team defeats Chinese Taipei 3-1 in qualifier

India’s U17 football team recorded a strong 3-1 win over Chinese Taipei in the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers on Wednesday, marking their first victory of the tournament. The Group D matches are being held in Saudi Arabia, where India finally found momentum after a slow start in the competition.

Chinese Taipei, Taiwan’s national team, took the early lead, putting India under pressure and forcing the team to regroup quickly. As the match progressed, India settled into their rhythm with better ball control and sharper passing. Gangte emerged as the standout performer, scoring in the 32nd minute to bring India level after a well-timed cross from a teammate. In the second half, he struck twice again in the 77th and 79th minutes with powerful long-range shots that changed the course of the match.

With this win, India now has four points in Group D, equal with IR Iran but behind on goal difference. Their upcoming match against Lebanon on Friday has become crucial, as a win there would significantly improve their chances of qualifying for the next round.

The performance also gave the team a much-needed confidence boost after earlier mixed results. India’s strong response, improved coordination, and disciplined defending were praised by the coaching staff. Gangte’s showing under pressure highlighted the growing promise within India’s youth system, offering hope that the team can build on this momentum in the remaining group fixtures.