Highlights, India vs Chinese Taipei, AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022: Match cancelled due to COVID-19

That's it from our end for tonight! It's so sad that the Indian team did not get a chance to play the match tonight. The players have been in a camp since August last year to prepare for the Asian Cup but the COVID-19 pandemic had others. Hopefully, they will bounce back quickly from this temporary setback. Good night.

Are India out of the tournament?

The AFC statement doesn't say so clearly. The statement does read that, "The matter will now be referred to the relevant AFC Committee(s) in accordance with the applicable regulations".

There's a slim chance the match may get rescheduled but the chance of that happening is very bleak. 

Absolutely gutted for our women. They’ve trained so hard for this tournament. Right now just praying they recover well. That’s the most important bit. And I hope the other teams stay safe as well. #WAC2022

— Darren Caldeira (@darrencaldeira) January 23, 2022

We wish a speedy recovery to all players and staff of the Women’s NT 🇮🇳 We love you. Whatever happens we are with you 💙👊🏻

— Blue Pilgrims 🇮🇳 (@BluePilgrims) January 23, 2022

The worse fear come true. #Omicron breached #BlueTigresses like never seen before.

At this moment we should pray for the speedy recovery of everyone and back our players.

These players reached this stage with great sacrifices and it is their dreams got shattered this time.

— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) January 23, 2022

Feel for the girls and the staff. 2 years of training and preparation only to end up like this. Catastrophic. #IndianFootball

— Sayak (@sayakdd28) January 23, 2022

…chance to play in the #2023FIFAWomensWorldCup.

It’s a sad day for #IndianFootball.

Thanks all to the #pandemic 😢

— Arunava Chaudhuri | arunfoot (@Arunfoot) January 23, 2022

Heart goes out for the Team. It is devestating to have trained and prepared for so long and to get knocked out of the tournament without having a chance to fight it out in the field. So Unfair. #Tigressess #BackTheBlue #HerGameToo

— Subin Michael (@subin_mj) January 23, 2022

The AFC says that provisions of Article 4.1 will apply to the cancelled match. In such a case, the side unable to field a team will be considered as the losers.  However, under exceptional circumstances, the AFC could reschedule the match. The chances of that happening is slim in a tournament that runs on an extremely tight schedule. 

Asian Football Confederation confirms the India-Chinese Taipei match has been cancelled. The statement reads that India did not have minium 13 players required for the match to go ahead.