New Delhi: For a group of Indian female soccer players from a humble background, life in the past year has spinned playing in the AFC Asian Cup and with it took a shot at the FIFA World Cup which was difficult to understand but the dream was destroyed after Covid -19 dropped them from the tournament.
From the Youngest Captain Ashalata Devi in the squad, Hemam Shilky Devi, the Asian Cup once in the occasion of a lifetime and they all look forward to quarter-finals, which will also take them to the World Cup 2023, before they are left “broken heart”.
If it’s not a World Cup place, they will succeed in achieving historic intercontinental play-offs in Indian football.
But now in the realm of ‘IFS’ and ‘but’ after 12 players were tested positive for viruses and matches against Taipei China called.
The Asian Football Confederation on Monday confirmed that India was considered to have withdraw from the continental exhibition.
“Really destroyed,” said the senior player and Aditi Chauhan goalkeeper properly capturing sentiments in the squad now.
“In the past year, our lives have revolved around the Asian Cup.
Our single goal is to qualify for the quarter-finals and take a shot at the World Cup,” said another player.
“We are very sad and disappointed now.
But it’s not the end of the world and hope that we will get the opportunity to achieve this in the future if we continue to do our occupant soles.” Many players have fought extraordinary opportunities to reach this level.
Some take sports like that “cheaper” to pursue while others must conflict with their parents and their communities.
Skipper Ashalata faced opposition from his family.
Ditto is the case of Shilky, which is all aged 16 and has a difference to the youngest player tournament.
The trip is not easy for them and this setback will definitely cause chaos in their minds.
No players were allowed to speak with media without permission and learned that each of them had been told to stay in their hotel room without getting along with each other.
Also learned that players have not been told who is infected between them.
India failed to beat Iran in their first match, but a victory against Taipei China on Sunday will book a perforated place for Therm.
And, it’s not something they can’t do.
The Indian team has beaten China Taipei 1-0 in an international friendly in October.
Finished the second place in the group will establish the Thomas Dennerby side against medium-middle side such as the Philippines in the quarter-finals and avoid the top ranking team such as Japan, Australia, Korea and China.
The Indian team has become one of the most prepared tournaments.
Since the beginning of last year, the Indian team has played international matches in Turkey, UAE, UAE, Bahrain and Brazil.
All President of the Indian Football Federation Patel said that no bio-bubbles were very easy against Covid-19 although there were several officials who felt the tournament could be delayed for two or three months and at that time the third wave of pandemics would weaken in India.
Other AIFF officials said the federation had done everything that could be owned in terms of safety measures.
“These players come from humble backgrounds and not high profile sportsmen.
They are not types that do not follow instructions.
They follow the protocol to ‘t’.” But somehow Covid-19 can break bio-bubbles.
This is bad luck and unfortunate.
People speak what can be done, what cannot be done with the benefits of the back.
“The tournament was held under strict health and safety protocols considering the surge in Covid-19 cases in India and Maharashtra.
All teams, which have been installed in separate hotels, was tested on arrival and they were not permitted outside their hotel – which functions As a bio-bubble – until the report enters.
After that, each team is also tested every 72 hours.
Two members of the Indian team were first tested positive for the virus on January 19.
Home team underwent another test round on Friday and 12 players returned positive on Sundays .
WC Dream over for Indian women’s soccer players who are ‘destroyed’
