A Covid-hit Indian team has withdrawn from the ongoing AFC Womens Asian Cup Football Tournament. This was confirmed by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today. Host India withdrew from the tournament after failing to field a minimum of 13 players (11 starters and two reserves) in their second Group-A match against Chinese Taipei at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on yesterday.

With several players testing positive, India failed to put up a full team against Chinese Taipei. According to media reports, India had only 11 players available on matchday morning from the 23-member squad and two more tested positive later in the day.

According to AFC sources, all matches of India are now cancelled and considered null and void pursuant to Article 6.5.5 of the Competition Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, all points and goals in those matches shall not be taken into consideration when determining the final rankings in the group in conformity with Article 7.3 of the Competition Regulations.

Earlier, India (World Rank 55) were held to a goalless draw by Iran (World Rank 70) in their opening match also at DY Patil Stadium on January 20. With the withdrawal of the team, a two-year-long preparation by All India Football Tournament (AIFF) for this tournament proved to be an exercise in futile.

The 23-member team, including two from Odisha was representing India in the AFC Womens Asian Cup. The two Odisha players were defender Manisha Panna and forward Pyari Xaxa.