Tags:
Journalism of Courage
An elated All India Football Federation AIFF President Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said by winning the AFC Challenge Cup, India has proved that it belongs to the elite Asian level.
8220;With today8217;s Wednesday win against Tajikistan we have arrived at the elite Asian level. Full credit for this win goes to the coach Bob Houghton and the players,8221; Dasmunshi said after the home team defeated Tajikistan 4-1 in the final, which secured a place for India in 2011 Asian Cup in Doha after a hiatus of 24 years.
8220;It was a fabulous win. I hope this victory will help India compete with the best in Asia. It will help the profile of the game rise in the country. We purposefully decided to host this tournament and I thank the AFC for awarding us the event,8221; said Dasmunshi.
The AIFF President also said that despite qualifying for 2011 Asian Cup, India will host the AFC Challenge Cup in 2010 again. The winners of 2008 and 2010 AFC Challenge Cup tournaments qualify for 2011 Asian Cup, but since India has qualified the AFC will decide whether the runners-up of the 2010 edition will make it to 2011 Asian Cup.
Besides India, hosts Qatar, 2007 edition winners Iraq, runners-up Saudi Arabia and third-place finisher South Korea have already made it to 2011 Asian Cup.
