The AFC Women’s Asian Cup will help in building women’s football in India, says AIFF President Praful Patel

India is all set to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 and all the matches will be held in the state of Maharashtra due to COVID-19 issues. A total of twelve teams are spread across three groups as they challenge each other for the continental crown. The top four teams qualify for the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

India are placed in group A along with heavyweights China, Chinese Taipei and debutants Iran. India have been the finalist of this event twice and will be hosting it for the first time since 1980 when they finished as runners up. So Thomas Dennerby’s team will be looking to replicate that energy in their attempt to bring pride to the nation.

AIFF President Praful Patel attended a virtual press conference ahead of the tournament on Monday and highlighted how this tournament will help in building football as a sport among many more younger kids. It is surely a big event not only for the Women’s but as for Indian football as a whole. The Indian Eves have a possibility of making it to the FIFA World Cup, which only should cheer people up.

“I can see a lot of boys and girls, in urban cities and in Tier 1&2 cities, who are looking at football as their most preferred sport and are also looking at football as a career option. The AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 will help in building women’s football in India,” Patel began.

When asked about the safety measures for the spread of Covid-19, Patel said at the virtual press conference, “We will follow the strictest of protocols and have full support from the Government of Maharashtra in hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022. We have ensured that the teams don’t travel much and therefore the tournament is being held in three cities, which are close by.”

It promises to be a groundbreaking tournament for Indian football and to raise the overall awareness among the ladies in the country to step up and take up football as a carer.

On top of that India will be looking to do well as they are hosting the tournament. Although the matches will be behind closed doors, the Blue Tigresses will be looking to roar at their den. Dennerby has already said that he is looking to qualify for the quarterfinals and gradually take on from there.