New Delhi, March 19 -- With just two weeks to go before their opening clash against Japan in Thailand, the Indian U20 women's national team stand on the brink of a long-awaited return. Two decades after their last appearance, India are back at the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup, and leading them out of the tunnel on April 2 will be captain Shubhangi Singh.

For Shubhangi, the significance of qualification has already been processed. The celebrations in Myanmar, where India ended their 20-year wait, have given way to a sharper, more immediate focus.

"We went there with the mindset to qualify, and we did," she said. "When you already believe something is going to happen, it doesn't come as a surprise."

That belief now fuels a squad preparing f...