New Delhi: Ahead of their opening AFC Women’s Asian Cup match against Iran Thursday, members of the Indian women’s national football team — who also go by the moniker ‘The Blue Tigresses’ — appealed to fans on social media to support them over the course of the tournament.
“The #BlueTigresses are all set for the Women’s @afcasiancup India 2022 and this is their message for all you fans out there,” the All India Football Federation tweeted, sharing a video of the players’ appeal to fans.
The #BlueTigresses ? are all set for the Women's @afcasiancup India 2022 and this is their message for all you fans out there ?️#WAC2022 ? #BackTheBlue ? #ShePower ? #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/bqG9ZnxAdK
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 18, 2022
Captain Ashalata Devi, goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan and right-back Dalima Chhibber were among those who featured in the video message.
“[Fans] are not allowed to attend our match [vs Iran] in person, but do watch us play on TV and support us on social media,” the captain said, alluding to the strict Covid bio-bubble regulations put in place around the tournament’s venues in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune. No spectators are allowed in the stadiums.
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‘Means everything to us’
“Your support and encouragement means everything to us as players and helps us give our 100 per cent on the pitch…that’s all we play for,” Chauhan said.
“We believe in ourselves and I hope you believe in us too. Keep supporting us, keep watching and keep backing the Blue,” Chhibber added.
Midfielders Indumathi Kathiresan and Anju Tamang also appeared in the video, and emphasised the importance of the Women’s Asian Cup for women’s football in India. It is the Blue Tigresses’ first appearance in the tournament since 2003. India is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1980.
After playing Iran Thursday evening at Navi Mumbai’s D.Y. Patil Stadium, Ashalata Devi’s team will face Chinese Taipei on 23 January at the same venue, before heading to Andheri West in Mumbai to take on title contenders China on 26 January in its last group stage encounter.
(Edited by Saikat Niyogi)
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