By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while thanking the Praful Patel led All-India Football Federation, which awarded this eastern State as Host for the game, said that the event will further cement Odisha’s Position as a Global Sports Hub.
“Glad to share that #Odisha will host the next edition of the Indian Women’s League. This will further cement the State’s position as a global sports hub & encourage our youth to embrace professional sports.#HeroIWL #ShePower #IndianFootball,” Naveen Patnaik tweeted @Naveen_Odisha.
“The AIFF confirms Odisha as the venue for the forthcoming Hero Indian Women’s League 2020-21. We are thankful to Shri @Naveen_Odisha, Mr. Vishal Kumar Dev,Mr. Vineel Krishna & the entire Sports Department of Odisha for extending all the support & help to organise this tournament,” AIFF chief Praful Patel tweeted @praful_patel.
“Over the years, the tournament has provided the platform for a lot of budding women footballers to show-case their talent and provide them the option of taking up football as a career.@Naveen_Odisha@IndianFootball #Odisha,” Patel said in another tweet.
India are scheduled to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022 which will be followed by the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022. The 2020-21 Hero Indian Women’s League, will provide an opportunity to unearth new talent for the Women’s National Team.
Tushar Kanti Behera, Minister of State, Sports & Youth Services, Odisha, said: “Odisha has been synonymous with women’s football in India for long. I am an ardent supporter of women empowerment, and the hosting of the Indian Women’s League in Odisha allows us the opportunity to contribute to the development of women’s football in the country along with the All India Football Federation. Women sportspersons in India have been bringing huge laurels for the country and I am confident our women footballers will garner more glory in the near future.”
The Indian women’s football has had its fair exposure at the international stage in recent times with the Senior Women’s team assembling for a two-month training camp on December 1, 2020, in Goa which was followed by three matches in Turkey, against Serbia, Russia, and Ukraine.
