India, Feb. 27 -- Almost three years after successfully hosting a World Cup, the spotlight will be back on Australia, this time for Asia. Beginning Sunday and for the next 20 days, the AFC Women's Asian Cup will be played in Perth, Sydney and Gold Coast. Twelve teams, 27 matches to decide the Asian champions and who will stay in the fray for the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

It could be the last chance for Australia's golden generation led by Sam Kerr to win something at home. "We really don't have another World Cup in us," Katrina Gorry had said after Australia's 1-3 defeat to England in the semi-final of the 2023 World Cup.

And it could be the first chance for India to show that, having got to the high table on mer...