Our Performance Against Brazil Showed "Women's Football In India Is Rising": IM Vijayan

Indian football legend IM Vijayan praised the national women's team's performance against Brazil and stated that the way they played was "impressive".

The national women team's ascendancy was on display during the recent exposure tour of Brazil, said Indian football legend IM Vijayan, who believes that adding competition between players will further help in the growth of the game in the country. India had played against Brazil, Chile and Venezuela in a four-nation tournament as part of its preparation for the AFC Asian Cup to be held in India -- Mumbai and Pune-- from January 20 to February 6. While India lost all their three matches, the highlight of the tour was the one-goal that they scored against mighty Brazil, who are the 2007 World Cup runners-up.

"The way India played against Brazil was impressive. We scored a goal against the top team globally which shows that women's football in India is rising," the 52-year-old Vijayan, a former India men's team captain, said in a release issued by AIFF.

"Our team has improved a lot and the federation is also trying hard to give them the much needed exposures."

"India is hosting the Asian Cup next year and everyone is trying hard to build the team and play good football. I am very happy to see everyone is contributing to the growth of women's football to take Indian Football forward together."

India international M Suresh also echoed his sentiments.