The Indian football team arrived here for the AFC Women's Asian Cup on Thursday, hours after its scheduled flight from its training base Kochi got delayed. (More Football News)
Amid the concerns caused by the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese Taipei became the first team to arrive here for t𒈔he continental tournament.
The delay in their flight from Kochi, the Indian team's base since its return from the tournament-cum-exposure tour♛ of Brazil, also led to the postponement of the host nation's scheduled media session on Thursday evening.
Looking forward to the tournament, India head coach Thomas Dennerby said, "Thi✤s is the moment we've been preparing for over the past six months. We've had over 200 sessions, a number of matches against quality opponents across four countries, and now it's time to imple🌳ment all the things that we have been working on."
The 62-year-old Swede, who had also previously coached the Swedish and the Nigerian national te🍷ams, revealed that a pep talk with the players before departure to Mumbai, has helped put everyone in the correct mindset.
"We had a small meet with the players and we explained to them how important the coming few weeks are in thei🐻r lives. I think this has really struck a few chords, and you can now see the determination in their eyes," he said.
The Indian team has been drawn against Iran (January 20), Chinese Taipei (January 23) and C♒hina (January 26) in Group A of the competitio꧂n that consists of 12 teams.
It has also been learnt that ꦰall the teams playing in Pune will arrive in Mumbai💟 and then commute to Pune by road.
"We are expecting the first te🐻am to be in Pune by 15th, which is Korea Republic. The teams (playing in Pune) will stay in two plush hotels in the city," a source i𒈔n the know of developments said.
All teams will be staying inside a strict bio bubble and everyone involved in the tournament including all players and of🎐ficials will undergo regular COVID-19 tests.
"All the ꦿstaff w꧅orking in the hotel will also be in the bubble and will not physically interact with anyone outside the bubble. Same goes for the drivers who will be with the team and AFC. They have also been provided accommodation," the source added.
India is hosti💧ng the continent's highest competition for the first time since 1980 and at stake is a possible berth in the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
One of the venues hosting matches is the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi on 🍷t🐓he outskirts of Pune city.
It has hosted a plethora of international events in the past including the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2ꦇ008.
Built in the 1990s, the Balewadi sports complex, as it is popularly known in spor🐎ting circles, had hosted the National Games too.
Be it tennis, rugby, football, boxing, athletics or basketball, the picturesque sports complex has witnesse💜꧂d many memorable sporting events.
From the 2008 CꦚWG⛦ Youth Games, when the facilities at the stadium saw a revamp, till February 2020, the complex has hosted 36 international tournaments.
The most prominent among them is theꦏ Maharashtra Open ATP 250 WTA tennis tournament, where 50 international players participated.
In 2019, the ATP tennis tournament was hosted here and again this year the tennis ꦡcourts are gearing up to host the marquee event.
In 2017, the stad🧸ium had hosted Davis Cup matches.
Coming to football, the stadium is set to host Asia's marquee event, and the Group C matcꦗh♏es would be played at the venue.
Earlier, it has hosted the Federation Cup International Football tournam꧟ent in 2010 and in 2011, they hosted the Pre-Olympic football q༒ualifier.
The pitch at the venue has been significantly upgraded to support modern football. Also new flood lights with LED panels have been installed at the stadium, which would save power to a large extent, a senior 🌌state government official said.
New training facilities were reconstructed for the tournament. Two additional practice pitches have also been constructed to cater to the teams and apart from that the team dressing rooms, hospitality areas and the media tribune ♚have also been upgraded.
The old lights have been shifted to one of the practice pitches while LED lights are being installed at the other practic🐬e pitch.
Some of theꦕ other prominent tournaments that the complex has hosted include Asian Junior Basketball tournament in 2009, World Junior Badminton Championship in 2008, Asian kick-boxing championship.
The complex has also ♍hosted the Khelo India Games.
