Dates for Women's Olympic Asian Qualifiers Play-off final confirmed

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Dates for Women's Olympic Asian Qualifiers Play-off final confirmed

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in consultation with FIFA has approved the proposals by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the Korea Football Association (KFA) to move their Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 Asian Qualifiers Play-off matches to February 19 and 24, 2021. 

China PR and Korea Republic were set to contest Asia’s final spot in the Women's 2020 Tokyo Olympic Football Tournament over two legs on June 4 and 9, 2020.

Steel Roses hit the ground running in second training camp

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Steel Roses hit the ground running in second training camp

Suzhou: China PR began their second training camp in the city of Suzhou on Thursday, as they look to maintain their sharpness ahead of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers Play-off. 

China PR will face Korea Republic in the two-legged play-off, which was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and veteran head coach Jia Xiuquan believes the Steel Roses need regular training camps to improve physically and technically.

After long isolation, Steel Roses welcome Wang’s return

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

After long isolation, Steel Roses welcome Wang’s return

Suzhou: Chinese women’s national team head coach Jia Xiuquan has paid tribute to returning star Wang Shuang, after the 2018 AFC Women’s Player of the Year joined her teammates for the first time since being separated as a result of the coronavirus.

The former Paris Saint-Germain spent more than two months in isolation in Wuhan, forcing her to miss China PR’s Tokyo Olympic Qualifiers in Australia and continue her training within the confines of her apartment building.

With Wuhan’s lockdown finally at an end, and after a week or quarantine within the team camp, Wang and fellow Wuhan locals Lv Yueyun and Yao Wei finally took part in a training session with their international teammates on Thursday.

Wu Haiyan: Steel Roses' spirit can take us through

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Wu Haiyan: Steel Roses' spirit can take us through

Suzhou: Life is gradually returning to some sort of normality in China PR thanks to the country’s enormous efforts in fighting COVID-19 over the past months. Notably, this means a return to work for China’s women's national team who began a four-week training camp at the Suzhou Taihu Football Centre, Suzhou on Saturday.

"The aim of this camp is to help the players restore fitness and strength," Steel Roses captain Wu Haiyan told FIFA.com. "We are taking some warm-up exercise as well as attacking and defence training."

Arnold sets goal for Olympics: First Australian football team to win a medal

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Arnold sets goal for Olympics: First Australian football team to win a medal

Sydney: Fuelled by his remarkable past Olympic experiences, Graham Arnold holds a firm desire to oversee the first Australian football team to win an Olympic medal when they travel to Tokyo in July 2021.

Australia U-23’s head coach is no stranger to the Games, having previously taken part as both as a player and a coach.

After securing passage to the men’s tournament for the first time since 2008, Arnold believes that every member of the squad must earn the right to represent their nation in the Olympic arena.

Tokyo Olympics on July 23-August 8 in 2021

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics on July 23-August 8 in 2021

Tokyo: The International Olympic Committee has announced the Tokyo Olympics will be held on July 23 to August 8 in 2021.

The new dates were announced in consultation with the Japan Government and the Organising Committee of the Tokyo Olympics.

The 2020 Olympics had been scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9 this year but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021

Tokyo: The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have been postponed by one year due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, following a conference call on Tuesday, agreed to postpone the Games for 12 months.