Women Football’s Chak De Moment: Indian Team Likely to Make It To FIFA World Cup Before the Men

Sports

Women Football’s Chak De Moment: Indian Team Likely to Make It To FIFA World Cup Before the Men

IndiasWomensFootballteamFIFA
Illustration: Robin Chakraborty

Football is big in India, if you consider viewership of the European leagues and the growing popularity of the Indian Super League. While the men’s game draws all the eyeballs, there’s a silent revolution taking shape in the women’s team.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel on Tuesday said that the national women’s team can qualify for the FIFA World Cup before the men’s team does, despite the less attention given to them.

The Indian women’s team is currently ranked 55 out of 159 nations, while the men’s team is 104 out of 210 countries. The sports ministry has asked the AIFF to prepare a “concrete and actionable”, Patel said, adding that the AIFF is hoping for the women’s team to qualify for the 2027 FIFA World Cup.

After a long wait, will we finally get to see the tricolour waving at a FIFA World Cup game?

The optimism was shared by Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, who pointed out that the women’s football team is ranked higher than the men, whether it is at the junior or senior level. “We have the ability to qualify, even if we are not the host nation,” he said.

Patel also stated that the AIFF is creating a developmental team for women players on the lines of the men’s Indian Arrows, to take part in the Indian Women’s League.

India was to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup this year, but after a postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was cancelled. India, however, has been given the hosting rights for the 2022 edition. “I was disappointed that some of the U-17 girls won’t be able to play in 2022 due to age factor. But there is nothing to be disappointed, you can play in the U-20, senior category, you are the future. There is nothing to worry, we will give all the support,” Rijiju told the sportspersons.

Whether it is badminton, athletics or wrestling, women have captured the imagination of the country before their male counterparts. They have made it to the highest level and been toe to toe with the top in the world. Now India’s moment in the game is steadily but surely arriving, and it is the women’s football team that is the one to watch out for.

However, even as ministers seem to back the team, there is little support from the rest of the nation – the fans and the media. It’s high time to stop obsessing over Virat Kohli’s milestones and celebrate the real winners here – the women’s football team.

Sports
#

Arré Bench

The Arré bench delivers stories that mattress. It hasn't achieved much sofar. But it's getting bedder.

  •  
  •  

Did you like it?

Tell us what you think so we can give you more content you like :

Related Content

  • Sports Sorry Novak Djokovic, it’s Impossible to Defend you this time

    After his deportation from Australia, the world’s best tennis player, Novak Djokovic looks set to also miss the French Open. The Serb has not always been likeable, but in flouting Covid rules, and endangering others he has crossed a line from where his legend now seems irredeemable.

    Add to list
  • Sports Indian hockey’s redemption might also be the redemption of its conflicted soul

    Hockey isn’t for anyone, but it is for everyone willing to brave through the physical risks of the game as much as the structural obstacles of life, which makes it the sport that best embodies the country’s soul.

    Add to list
  • Sports Is IPL Living In Its Own Bubble?

    In the era of physical isolation, does a sporting event that brings people together need to mentally isolate itself from the devastation caused by the pandemic? As the country gasps for breath, it is too much to expect our cricketing heroes to amplify an SOS tweet or do something that shows they care – anything that’ll tone down the tone-deafness of the tournament.

    Add to list
  • AnkitaRaina Sports Tomorrow is a New Day for Indian Sports as Ankita Raina Makes Her Australian Open Debut

    India has a potential superstar in the making. Ankita Raina is set to make her maiden appearance at the Australian Open 2021, becoming only the fourth Indian woman tennis player in the Open era to secure a place in the main draw of a Grand Slam.

    Add to list
  • India-Australia Sports The Tale of the India-Australia Test Series Cannot Be Told in Statistics

    The scorecard can never do justice to the historic India vs Australia Test series we just witnessed. This is not the story about great tons and wickets, it’s a story of heroics and emotions – of Cheteshwar Pujara’s bruises, Mohammad Siraj’s tears, Hanuma Vihari’s hamstring, and Ajinkya Rahane’s grit.

    Add to list

Comments

en English
en Englishhi Hindi