The countdown has finally begun for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with the ticketing launch on Friday at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
The first tickets for the October 11-30 tournament were handed out by the Local Organising Committee to six inspirational women, selected from across the country who have displayed exemplary leadership in uplifting their respective communities.
While dignitaries like chief guest for the event, Union minister for youth affairs & sports Anurag Thakur, national team captains Sunil Chhetri and Ashalata Devi, and several Indian legends of the game attended the event, former US women’s national team striker and two-time Olympic gold medallist, Lindsay Tarpley was the guest of honour at the event.
“I look at my experience personally going through the youth system and the impact it had on my personal development. And I now look at India’s opportunity to host U-17 World Cup and what an opportunity it is for the country to invest in the infrastructure of women’s soccer, to help little girls to grow up knowing they can be a female footballer,” Tarpley said, as the TOI caught up with the veteran of 32 international goals for the US for an exclusive virtual interaction earlier on Friday.
“It’s also a chance to start developing female leaders and females within the industry to make decisions to continue to help grow the game.”
That the premier FIFA women’s event will be an opportunity for India to give the Indian women’s football some of the visibility that the 58th ranked team deserves was reiterated by India’s current leader at the senior level, Ashalata, at the ticket launch. “We need your support!” were the words of India’s defensive stalwart.
However, the 38-year-old US football veteran said the FIFA event would be the first step in a continuous process of development.
“It is step by step. One of the biggest things is exposure. And by having the opportunity to host a youth World Cup, a lot of people are going to see these incredible players on the world stage. They are the future leaders of the women’s game,” said Lindsay, who has invested her energy in furthering the women’s game since an injury forced her early retirement.
“To be able to watch them at a young age and getting to follow their careers and see the impact that they’re gonna have is exciting. I think the future of India is in continuing to invest in the women’s game and getting people the tickets to watch the games.”
The American was also part of a legends’ exhibition match on the day with the likes of Bembem Devi, Bala Devi, Ashalata and Aditi Chauhan as well as men’s veterans like IM Vijayan and Bhaichung Bhutia. The Blue team led by Chhetri won it 5-2.
She also spoke of how the US women’s players “worked extremely hard over the course of several years to achieve” equal pay for the players. But the star striker/midfielder stressed the need for a process to reach that goal.
“Being able to host a youth World Cup and give the players exposure and being able to inspire girls growing up everywhere to know that they can play football at that level is important. I also think continuing to develop the standard of women’s football is crucial but that should also be step by step.”
And the process has not been any different for top players of the women’s game like her. “Personally, my first experience was the U-20 World Cup (2002). And I credit a lot of my success to the senior women’s national team for the experiences I had as a youth. Being able to go to different countries, learning how to adapt to different environments and how to tactically figure out a different country. Things like that are important and as more women get involved in the game. It’s gonna be an exciting time for us.”
Lindsay was also excited about the recent record-breaking European Championship final at Wembley that gave England the first international trophy since 1966. “I personally watched all of those games on ESPN. To have that kind of exposure around the world is so amazing for the growth of the women’s game,” she told TOI.
With the ticketing gates open for the tournament -- to be scheduled at the three venues of Bhubaneswar, Navi Mumbai and Mumbai -- it is time for the fans to book a chance to see the best U-17 women’s footballers in the world in action. Captain Chhetri probably had the most encouraging words for women at the launch event. “I truly believe that women are better footballers than men in India! In my family of four, my mom is the best footballer,” Chhetri said in all sincerity.
