Women's Olympic Football Qualifiers: India drawn with Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal in Round 2

Modified Feb 13, 2019 13:57 IST

India were today drawn with Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal in Group A of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament Asian Qualifiers Round 2.

The matches will be held between April 1 and April 9, 2019, in Myanmar.

India would have already faced all of their group opponents at least once by the time the Olympic Qualifiers begin.

Maymol Rocky's team faced Indonesia in two friendlies in Jakarta, before the Hero Gold Cup began in Bhubaneswar.

Nepal beat India 2-1 in what was an unlucky outing for the Indian eves in Bhubaneswar, as they peppered the Nepalese goal, but just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net, after two howlers from Aditi Chauhan had given the Himalayan nation a very early 2-0 lead.

India will also face Myanmar in a crucial Gold Cup tie of the Hero Gold Cup, this evening, with a win being an absolute necessity to ensure qualification for the final of the tournament.

India had also faced Nepal and Myanmar in Round 1 of the qualifiers, having been clubbed in the same group as those two teams, with Bangladesh being the fourth team on that occasion.

India had drawn 1-1 with Nepal, beat Bangladesh 7-1 and lost 2-1 to Myanmar in Round 1, with the 4 points being enough to ensure their progress to Round 2.

India will hope to have the services of stalwarts like Bala Devi and Kamala Devi available in time for the qualifiers, after the two, along with goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu made themselves unavailable for selection for the team's recent friendlies.

Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Palestine were already selected as hosts for the respective groups, even before the draw was made.

The three group winners from Round 2 of the qualifiers will join Australia, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, China and Thailand in the final round of qualifiers, from where four teams will join hosts Japan as Asia's five representatives in the women's football tournament at Tokyo 2020.