Down 1-0 against two-times runners-up Japan, the Thais stormed back to claim a 3-1 triumph and advance as group winners, in the process recording their first tournament win against the Japanese in three attempts.

They followed it up with a convincing 5-1 victory against Hong Kong, China in the quarter-finals on Tuesday to show why they are ranked fifth in the world by FIFA - Asia’s highest-placed side.

At the heart of Thailand’s charge is Jenjira Bubpha, who has caught the eye with her all-action displays. Not only capable of finding the back of the net, as evidenced by her three goals, the 29-year-old can also thread the needle with her incisive passing and help out at the back with her astute defensive positioning.

And according to Jenjira, the Southeast Asians are determined to get better with every game, as they seek to lift the title for the first time, having placed third at each of the last two editions in 2015 and 2018.

“I feel very happy that we got through this (quarter-final) because we wanted to win and take one step more towards being champions of Asia,” she told the-AFC.com.

“I am proud that I am able to execute what I have planned in my mind on the pitch to help the team to achieve victory. We can improve further and make fewer mistakes in the next game.

“Everybody has been improving since the first match so I hope we can maintain this and keep going, now that we are among the last four teams and closer to the final.”

Part of the squad in 2018, where she scored four times, Jenjira added that the team is fuelled by the desire to achieve glory for Thailand.

“We play for our family, play for ourselves, and most of all, play for our country,” she said. “So many fans are watching our performances and have expressed their pride on social media. And we hope very much that we will be able to keep performing our best.”

A youth international for Thailand who played in the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship 2015, Jenjira was introduced to futsal in secondary school and continued her rise through the ranks through her time at the Bangkok Sports School.

The one-club player has represented Bangkok FC in both futsal and football since 16, turning out in the domestic league as well as the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2023 for the latter. Despite her diminutive stature, Jenjira is a force to be reckoned with on the court and pitch, and credits her strong fundamentals from young as the key for her longevity.

“I try to improve myself both physically and mentally all the time, in order to help the team,” she said.

“I also do my best to guide the younger players because I am a senior and have been playing for many years. I feel like I want to do my best all the time, whether it's as a senior or as a teammate.”

Currently an assistant coach at the Bangkok Sports School, Jenjira noted that more universities have started to field women’s futsal sides and hopes that the sport can keep growing, underlined by the national team’s performances.

Jenjira is hopeful that Thailand can step onto the global stage by qualifying for the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup Philippines 2025, asserting once again the importance of their team spirit in achieving that goal.

“I believe that everyone is ready to fight for each other and we have become more united,” she said. “We have to improve even more together and then, we will be able to be competitive at the World Cup.”