AFC Women’s Futsal Championship: Continent’s elite to battle for title
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Loading...AFC – BANGKOK, Three years after the Islamic Republic of Iran became Asia’s first women’s futsal champions, the Continent’s best national teams will battle for supremacy in Thailand for the second edition.
A total 29 matches in two world class venues over 11 days will produce one champion as national teams representing all five AFC regions prepare to go head to head in one of the Continent’s thriving futsal hotspots.
Thailand will be looking to build on the gold medals they won at the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Games in Ashgabat and SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur by claiming a first continental title on home soil.
They are expected to be challenged by reigning champions Iran, who swept all before them in Malaysia in 2015, winning all five matches and producing jaw-dropping goals to lift the trophy, with Fereshteh Karimi voted Most Valuable Player.
Not to be discounted are Japan – the most successful nation in Asian Indoor and Martial Games women’s futsal history – who were denied by a single Karimi goal in the final three years ago.
In addition to the established contenders, all eyes will be on the challenges mounted by the seven teams making their debut on the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship stage, with Bangladesh, Bahrain, Chinese Taipei, Lebanon, Indonesia, Macau and Turkmenistan all appearing for the first time.
OPENING FIXTURES
May 2: Hong Kong v Indonesia, Thailand v Macau, Vietnam v Chinese Taipei, Malaysia v Bangladesh
May 3: China PR v Bahrain, Japan v Lebanon, Turkmenistan v IR Iran
VENUES
Huamark Indoor Stadium: 16 matches including final, semi-finals and third place match.
Bangkok Arena: 13 matches including opening match.
