Ahead of the tournament, Patel addressed the media over a virtual press conference. The AIFF president further opened up about how he believes Indian football fans will perceive the competition upon a Sportskeeda enquiry.
He said:
Meanwhile, Patel also reiterated his claim that the Indian Women’s Senior Team will progress through to the knockout stages. But he asked football fans to appreciate the work these players have put in irrespective of the result, saying:
Aaditya Thackeray, president of the Mumbai District Football Association, was also present at the press meet. All the matches of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will be played across three venues. These are Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai, DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, and the Balewadi Stadium in Pune.
Maharashtra’s Cabinet Minister Thackeray also discussed how hosting an event of such international stature would aid the state’s footballing structure.
At no stage did AFC think of postponing the tournament: Praful Patel on India hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup amid a pandemic
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup will unravel in India at a critical time when not just the country but the entire globe is grappling with the pangs of COVID-19. Although the Asian Football Confederation have put in place strict protocols, the possibility of a bio-bubble breach cannot be ruled out.
Asked how the AIFF and the organizing committee are planning to tackle any such possibility, Praful Patel said:
In 2020, India was supposed to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, however, due to the ongoing pandemic the tournament was delayed indefinitely. Asked if the AFC Asian Cup had come under any similar threat at any point, the former Civil Aviation minister said:
Praful Patel further opened up about the challenges of hosting a pandemic during the pandemic. He said:
Meanwhile, Aaditya Thackeray was asked whether hosting a tournament like the AFC Women’s Asian Cup would kickstart Maharashtra’s revolution as a footballing state. The 31-year-old said:
He added:
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