“I must thank the players and the technical staff for the collective effort that won us this match,” said Mandhar.

“It is always tough when you score first and then your opponents go ahead. It was a mentally challenging situation, but our experience came to our aid, and we managed to maintain composure and execute our coach’s game plan.”

As far as experience goes, Mandhar, at 41 years old, is one of the most senior players in the competition, which, according to the defender, does not add pressure.

“I train hard and lead a disciplined life that gives me the confidence to believe in myself and my ability to give my best for my country. When we face Iran in the final, I know I will be at my best,” said the number five.

“We are old rivals and are very familiar with each other’s game, so I think our chances of winning are 50-50. We both have the weight of making it to the World Cup off our shoulders, so we will try to write history for our countries as we fight for the Asian crown."

Japan head coach Teruki Tabata was reluctant to rue the lost opportunity to win a fourth title and was eager to focus on the third-place playoff for the final ticket to the global showpiece in May.

“It was a tough game, and we performed poorly,” said Tabata. “There is nothing left for us to do other than change our mindset and focus on what lies ahead, and we will do just that to ensure we find our place in the World Cup in May.”