India’s premature end in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup is history now. What started as a journey of hope ended as a nightmare, after three losses, a group-stage exit and 16 goals conceded.
“We had belief, but sometimes things are out of our control. But I was happy with the fact that the players gave their best. That’s the most important thing,” India’s assistant coach Crispin Chettri tells Sportstar.
Crispin had steered Odisha FC to the Indian Women’s League title in the 2023-25 season and took over as India coach in February 2025.
However, the lack of a Pro License – mandatory for Asian Cup or qualification campaigns – saw him serve as coach in an unofficial capacity as Priya P.V. was named coach on the team sheets.
He, however, served as the architect of India’s historic qualification campaign, wherein the Blue Tigresses qualified 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 an assistant coach under new head coach Amelia Valverde, a mere six weeks before the tournament.
“It looked very unfair to my coaching staff and me. But, having said that, if the results had been like these under me, I would have regretted it too,” Crispin says.
“Then there would have been a perception that if we had somebody else (in charge), maybe the result could have been different. So, I think bringing her was right, but it could have been done a little bit earlier,” he adds.
On the other hand, Vietnam and Japan, two of India’s group stage opponents, had their coaches appointed well in advance.
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The Nadeshiko’s manager, Nils Nielsen, was appointed in December 2024, while Mai Duc Chung, Vietnam’s tactician, has been with the women’s team in various capacities for the last 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 had all been passed on. But maybe it was too short a period for her to arrive,” Crispin says.
“Sometimes, when changes happen (too late), players get confused. Even we coaches took time to adapt,” he adds.
Crispin also rued Anju Tamang’s injury just before the tournament, a first-team regular and a member of India’s 2022 Asian Cup campaign.
“We had the belief, but sometimes things are out of our control. I feel 50 per cent of the reason for our result was because of Anju’s late injury, because she was one of the fittest and senior-most players in the camp who could lead and communicate. We had built our attack around Anju only. So her being out also hampered everything,” he says.
India needed to reach the Asian Cup quarterfinal to fulfil the minimum criteria for making it to the Asian Games, scheduled in Japan between September 19 and October 4. A special exemption from the Central Government can still give the team clearance, and Crispin feels that should happen.
“The government should send the team because in the Asian Games, we will get good teams. Sometimes, you have to play with the best to become the best. Right now, we should not be thinking about losing, but playing against the best team,” he says.
“I was really happy when the federation sent the under-17 team for the under-19 SAFF Championship. That’s how we should move forward. We have to change our approach along these lines, and the federation has to start believing in the younger ones,” he notes.
India has a tour planned to Kenya in April, where it will play in a four-nation friendly tournament with the host, Australia and Malawi. In May, it will compete in the SAFF Championship on home soil.
But will Crispin continue?
“My contract is getting over by this March. I have already created a bubble of almost 50 players who are in the age group of 21 to 22. If we focus on them, then we will be ready for the future,” he says.
India, however, is likely to continue with Valverde at the helm. The Costa Rican coach had an initial contract until the Asian Cup, but it is understood that an extension is already on the table.
Questions about Valverde’s time of appointment might have been an obvious talking point after this Asian Cup. The All India Football Federation will hope that does not happen in the next qualification cycle.
Published on Mar 22, 2026
