India gets to host women’s football

The Asian Football Confederation has given India the right to host women’s Asian Cup in 2022. This will be the first time that India will host the tournament since 1979.

New Delhi, June 5: The Asian Football Confederation has awarded the hosting rights of the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup to India for the first time since 1979.

The decision was taken at the AFC Women’s Football Committee meeting. In February, the AFC Women’s Football Committee had recommended India to be hosts.

In a letter to the All India Football Federation, Dato Windsor John, General Secretary, AFC wrote: “The Committee awarded the hosting rights of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 Finals to the All India Football Federation.”

The tournament will likely be held in the second half of the year. In the 1979 edition, India had finished as runners-up.

“I need to thank the Asian Football Confed-eration for finding us suitable to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022,” AIFF President, Praful Patel said.

“The tournament will galvanise the aspiring women players and bring in a holistic social revolution as far as women’s football in the country is concerned,” he added.

The tournament will feature 12 teams, expanded from the previous slot of eight teams. India qualify directly as hosts. The event will also serve as the final qualification tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The tournament comes as the latest boost to AIFF as India are slated to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup next year. India had also hosted the AFC U-16 Championships in 2016 and the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017.

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“The tournament will play a huge role in further popularising women’s football in India. The Women’s Asian Cup 2022 will help us sustain, and build on the momentum gained,” AIFF General Secretary, Kushal Das said.

AIFF INVITES BID FOR I-LEAGUE

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday invited bids for new clubs who would take part in the Hero I-League from 2020-21.

The bids have been invited from non-Hero I-League cities and includes names of several cities like New Delhi, Ranchi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bhopal, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, amongst others, according to an AIFF media release.

Prospective owners will be able to purchase the invitation to tender from the Football House in Delhi between June 10 and June 20 upon payment of `4 lakh.

“As per the invitation to tender, the entity that wins the bid will be granted the right to own and operate a new football club from 2020 onwards. The aforementioned club will have the opportunity (if applicable, and subject to qualification) to also compete in the AFC club competitions,” the release said.

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PTI