The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on December 16 formally announced its candidature to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and deliver a 'Brighter Future Together' for football in India and across Asia.
AIFF President Praful Patel and Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju launched the bid along with the bid logo. The launch even had special guests which included three generations of Indian footballers – past, present and future – represented by former India defender Gourmangi Singh, Indian women's football captain Ashalata Devi and India U-16 star Shubho Paul.
It hasn't often happened at the women's football captain comes in as one of the special guests for the bid launch. "This shows the importance AIFF is giving to women’s football now. Earlier, no one would have known who is the captain of the women’s team but now I am being invited as a guest for such a big occasion. I don’t think any other country had their women’s team captain present for the bid launch. I am extremely proud," she said.
Ashalata also spoke about the opportunity she and her team will get when they play in the Asian Cup in front of her home fans at the AFC Asian Women's Cup scheduled in 2022 in India.
"It will be a huge honour to represent India on such a big stage. The whole team is excited about it and we are preparing really well for it. We saw the U-17 World Cup in 2017 and the kind of support that the team got. We are hopeful of getting the same support."
Ashalata also said that she would like to inspire the next generation of women footballers in India. "One thing I would like to say is that it’s important to start young. I started playing football when I was 12,13 but you have players starting at 7,8. Those 4-5 years are really important in the formation of the player and learning the basics.
"I hope the two tournaments that we are hosting next year – AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 and FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 inspire new girls to take up football. When they see us playing in front of packed stadiums, it will definitely motivate them."
Ashalata is optimistic about India's chances of winning the bid for AFC Asian Cup 2027. "We have the infrastructure and would have already hosted a few big tournaments by then. It will also be a great chance for other Asian fans to see India and the passion that the country has for football. I hope we can pull this off."