A new challenge awaits Bhutan’s young Dragon Girls as they prepare for the AFC Under-17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, set to take place in Thailand next month. Drawn into Group F alongside Thailand, Lebanon, and Macau, the young Dragon Girls will play three matches as they compete for a place in the next round.
Bhutan will begin its campaign against the host, Thailand, on 5th October. The team will then face Lebanon before playing Macau in its final group match on 11th October.
For the young players, the qualifiers will be an opportunity to compete against teams from across Asia and gain valuable international experience.
The team captain Dechen Dolkar said,“Since this is our first AFC qualifier, it is a very special opportunity for all of us. We are expecting strong competition and a new level of experience. We want to learn, compete with confidence, and show the hard work we have put in.”
“My biggest hope for this tournament is to represent my country with pride, passion, and dedication. I want to give my best in every game, learn as much as I can, and contribute to the team to get qualified,” said Pema Lhazin, a player.
Thirty teams are competing across eight groups, with the winner of each group advancing to the next round, which is the AFC Under-17 Women’s Asian Cup. They will join DPR Korea, Japan, Australia and China, who have already secured their places in the final competition.
Namgay Wangdi
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
