India bags right to host 2020 Women’s Asian FOOTBALL Cup

Asian Football Confederation based in Kula Lumpur has awarded the hosting right of the  Women’s Asian Cup 2022 to India. In February, the AFC Women’s Football Committee had recommended India to be hosts. This is the first time that India will be hosting the event since 1979 when India had finished as the runners-up.AFC General Secretary Dato Windsor John has written  to the All India Football Federation, AIFF, confirming the decision. ‘’AIFF President Praful Patel said that the tournament will galvanize the aspiring women players and bring in a holistic social revolution as far as women’s football in the country is concerned. 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. AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said that the tournament comes on the back of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020 and will help India sustain and build on the momentum gained. In the  tournament , 12 teams are expected to participate compared to  eight teams previously. India will qualify directly as hosts. The event will also serve as the final qualification tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The tournament is likely to be held in the second half of the year, said Kushal Das .(photo courtesy to Coastal Digest)