2018 AFC Women’s Futsal Championship

Tehran Times - Iran will start the 2018 AFC Women’s Futsal Championship with the aim of winning the title for the second year in a row.

Iranian women's futsal team claimed the title of the first edition which was held in Malaysia in 2015.

The second edition has been scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand from May 3 to 12 where Team Melli have been drawn with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Shahrzad Mozafar’s girls will start the campaign with a match against Turkmenistan on Thursday.

“Achieving the title of champions in the first edition also brings a lot of expectation inside Iran and from the others outside, so this brings a big responsibility for us as coaching staff and also for the players,” Mozafar said in an interview with the-AFC.com.

“As you know, Iranians really love futsal, so we have a very big responsibility to satisfy the people by repeating the title.

“Once you achieve something for the first time, it becomes harder to repeat that achievement, but we are ready for that,” she added.

With Iran’s sights set firmly on retaining their crown, the first obstacle comes in the shape of an unheralded Turkmenistan side who are competing in the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship for the first time.

While the title holders are widely expected to win their opening match, Mozafar insists nothing will be taken for granted.

“I have seen Turkmenistan play in the Asian Indoor Games. I think they are developing, but we respect every team and we never underestimate any opponent,” she declared.

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