Through My Eyes: Women's Asian Cup 2022, India

The Women’s Asian Cup 2022 in India was a sight to behold for everybody who appreciates and cherishes women’s football. It started the year on a good note, urging many people not to overlook the brilliance of Asian countries. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic and covid restrictions, the competition had to be played behind closed doors, leaving football’s most important component, its supporters, out. And that’s the purpose behind this article: to share what I’ve seen and experienced with you all through my eyes.

I am a fan, just like you. While I currently have some journalistic privileges, this was not always the case. In fact, the Women’s Asian Cup was my very first tournament as a sports journalist. It was also my first time seeing a football game live in a stadium. I’ve grown up watching football and have been actively following women’s football since 2017. Still, I’ve never had the opportunity to experience it the way others have, by attending games at the stadium.

The journey to the tournament

If you had told me in early 2021 that I would apply for tournament accreditation, I would not have believed you. And I think, in some ways, my scepticism persisted when I received the email confirming my accreditation application approval. AFC confirmed a few days later that fans would not be able to attend the competition. It made me understand that, while I was fortunate in the circumstances, I also had a great deal of responsibility on my shoulders. I represented SportingHer and many fans who wanted to be present at the stadiums but could not.

A chill came through me when I received my accreditation card in my hands. It was happening, and all of my hard work leading up to this event had paid off. I just presented the card to my father with a grin on my face, and I could see how happy he was with me. I needed to get my media card at one of the stadiums, and the preparations were in full swing. Needless to say, I was ecstatic since I was only hours away from seeing my first live game and seeing some of my favourite players play right in front of me.

And so, it begins

I’m sure we’ve all had goosebumps and been caught away by what was happening in front of us at some point. This was how I felt as I walked inside the Media Tribune for the first time at the stadium. Sitting in the Tribune was unlike any other experience. I felt like a VIP, but with a lot more responsibilities.

And all of this was how I thought until the players stepped onto the field. I was starstruck the moment the players stepped on the pitch. I became a total fan and forgot about my responsibilities for a few minutes. I’m sure you’d have had the same response as me if you’d spent your entire life watching these athletes on a screen.

As a professional, I know that someone in my position would not do what I did next. But I also had a lot of supporters to represent, so I had to. I cheered at the top of my lungs for every team, making sure they knew how much the supporters valued them even if they weren’t present at the time. After each game, I might have lost my voice, but it was always worth it. The players and everyone else in the stadium enjoyed the applause because, let’s face it, who likes to play in an empty stadium? I was fortunate not to be the only one cheering from the Media Tribune. Many of my media and broadcast team pals were there to cheer with me.

A range of emotions

While I enjoyed most group games, nothing can make me forget the heartbreak and anger I felt on January 23rd when India had to withdraw from the tournament. There were emotions ranging from sadness to anger that the supporters and the Media Tribune felt. The thought of India not going any further in the tournament wouldn’t set in. And in some ways, I am glad that it wasn’t the case because I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on the rest of the competition. We felt these emotions because of the hopes and dreams for the Indian team. The goals of performing well in this tournament were gone, but the dreams of qualifying for the World Cup were washed away.

That night when I got back home from the stadium, I quietly sat in my room and prepared myself for the rest of the tournament. Irrespective of what happened, it was a competition hosted in India at the end of the day. And I was there to fulfil my responsibility. I’m glad that I did not allow my emotions to stop me, as the rest of the tournament reminded me why I was there in the first place.

How do I not mention Caitlin Foord?

If you follow me on social media, you’d know that Caitlin Foord was gracious enough to pose for a photo with me. What no one knows is how it happened. Fans frequently neglect to mention the compassion offered to them by athletes in times like these. In my situation, if you looked at my socials, you would have realized that I was wearing a new Arsenal jersey to every Australian game. It probably made me more noticeable. But I’ll never forget how, after Australia’s penultimate group game against Thailand, Caitlin strolled up to where I was standing and just said, “Let’s take a picture.” I was taken aback and questioned her, “What?” twice.

Now, I get that this isn’t a huge issue to many people who follow these athletes regularly, but I’m trying to emphasize that Caitlin didn’t have to go out of her way to come to snap a picture. And yet she did, and it was one of the tournament’s significant thrills for me. The generosity shown to us by these players, especially after games when they are exhausted, demonstrates how much they value our support. Unfortunately, I could not get my jersey autographed, but the entire experience meant a great deal to me.

Also, a huge thank you to Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, and the other players who showed their appreciation for the hard work of the volunteers at the stadium.

Please Note: Covid protocols were in place, and the players stood at a distance to take these said pictures.

Finals of your dreams

It would be remiss of me not to note the mayhem that this year’s Asian Cup delivered. We weren’t disappointed from Australia falling to Korea to the Philippines reaching the semi-finals in an entertaining match against Chinese Taipei that ended in a penalty shootout. Everyone at the Media Tribune can agree that we all wanted a penalty shootout until the end. And the Asian Cup did not let us down.

If you thought the adrenaline was pumping in the Tribune for the Philippines vs Chinese Taipei match, wait for the semi-final match between Japan and China. We were all on the edge of our seats, clutching our jackets and bracing ourselves for the cold. Each goal sent us all into a frenzy, and the Tribune was pulsing. Nothing could have prepared us for the encounter between Japan and China in the semi-finals.

And if that wasn’t enough action, the finals between Korea and China blew our minds. From a dominant Korean first-half performance to China’s tremendous second-half comeback, most of us had lost our voices by the end of the game. That was the end of the Asian Cup. China won their ninth title, while I departed with a slew of experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life.

More to look forward to

With my first competition, I learned a lot. I’ve done everything from interviewing my first player, witnessing my first game live, meeting some of my favourite players, and watching a live penalty shootout. This year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup has undoubtedly transformed the way I watch every game. I don’t want to watch the games any other way now that I’ve seen them live. However, this is only the beginning, and there is much more to come in the future. We all have a lot to look forward to with the Euros coming up this summer. And if the Euros are as entertaining as the Asian Cup, we are in for a treat.