Asian heavyweights chase Palembang gold
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, August 17, 2018
Just four months on from the AFC Women's Asian Cup Jordan 2018, the continent's women's national teams are back in action, with Asian Games gold this time in their sights.
Eleven teams, spread across three groups, will fight for a place in the quarter-finals, with the medals to be handed out following decisive fixtures on August 30, as some of the Asian women's game's biggest stars come to face to face in Indonesia.
The tournament has traditionally been dominated by East Asian teams, and with Women's Asian Cup winners Japan and fellow 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers China PR and Korea Republic among the field, the region will be strongly represented once again.
But while the France-bound trio will all be confident of a strong showing, another East Asian side will arrive in Indonesia with a point to prove. DPR Korea's failure qualify for Jordan 2018 means their France 2019 campaign was over before it began, but the reigning champions will expect to be among the contenders.
While they missed out on a place April's continental championship on goal difference, DPR Korea have barely put a foot wrong since, winning seven and drawing one of their last eight senior international matches as a new generation take their chance on the senior stage.
They also won the 2017 EAFF Football Championship last December and are definite contenders.
As Asian champions, Japan are also among the gold medal favourites, but the 2010 winners will have to do without their overseas-based players including captain Saki Kumagai, while Jordan 2018 hero Kumi Yokoyama is sidelined by injury.
Korea Republic, buoyed by their unbeaten but unfortunate AFC Women's Asian Cup showing, will also have high hopes, while China PR will look to continue their progress under new head coach Jia Xiuquan.
While they have never won an Asian Games medal in women's football, Nuengrutai Srathongvian's Thailand can't be discounted as the Southeast Asians look to continue a superb 2018 which has included a Women's Asian Cup semi-final and an AFF Women's Championship.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)