Twelve teams including India will participate in the first round of qualification which kicks off on Women’s Day, March 8 and winds up on March 27. The 12 teams have been divided into three groups but not with four teams each. Group A comprises of five countries which include Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei and Myanmar while Group B consists only three teams comprising India, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh. Group C has four countries comprising Bahrain, Iran, Palestine and Jordan after Qatar withdrew from the run up.
Group A will play their matches in Chinese Taipei (Kaohsiung City) while Bangladesh (Dhaka) will host the Group B games. Jordan (Zerqa City) will play host to the Group C encounters.
Round 2 of the qualification, which takes place in between June 3 to 12, will include the top 2 teams from Group A and C and the winner of Group B. These five teams will play in a one round league format and the winner of this round will ultimately join the elite clubs of Japan, China, DPR Korea, Korea Republic and Australia. These five countries qualify in the final round with a direct bye after their top five finished in the Beijing Olympic Games 2008.
The final round of competition will be played in a one round league format among the six countries and the two best teams will have the onus to bear the Asian flag in London 2012. Host for the second and final round will be selected from the participating nations.
India, clubbed with Bangladesh and Uzbekistan has a good chance of qualifying for the second round. However with just one team to progress to the third round, India has a slim chance as they will have to lock horns with the two best teams from Group A and C. However, football being an unpredictable game, it remains to be seen what the Ronibala Chanu lead team can come up with.
Wishing the Indian Women a very good luck.
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