AFC Women's Asian Cup: India recommended as hosts for 2022 tournament

India is well on the way to hosting yet another mega football event as AFC has recommended them as hosts for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022.

If the recommendation put forward is accepted in the meeting that will take place in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, India would become the first South Asian hosts of the tournament.

The bidding countries were India, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan and the committee considered India as the best nation to "maximise the promotion of the women's game."

The press release by the AFC stated that India proposed two stadiums - DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and TransStadia Arena in Ahmedabad, the same venues that are also being used for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in November this year.

Keeping in mind that India has hosted tournaments like AFC Under-16 Championships in 2016 and the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2017 in the past, the committee felt that India would be the ideal host that could boost the standards of AFC Women's Asian Cup.

"This is the most important and prestigious competition in women's football in Asia. The last edition was a major step forward for the women's game in Asia. It was played in Jordan, the first time a West Asian nation had hosted the event. Now we are looking to build on that legacy.

India offers the best opportunities to build the event commercially as well as increasing the value and India is also committed to developing the women's game in the country and while all three were strong bids, India stands out," Committee Chairperson, Mahfuza Akhter Kiron was quoted in the AFC release.

The committee also decided that the duration of the tournament will be 17 days. The schedule will most likely be announced in late October and early November 2022 and it will be worked out keeping in mind the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 starting date.