Roma Khanna who was serving as Tournament director of FIFA U-17 Women’s world cup and AFC Women’s Asia cup scheduled in India in 2022 has stepped down from his post due to personal reasons.
Khanna played an instrumental role in the bid of Under 17 women’s world cup in 2019 and was later appointed as Tournament director to take care of the operational work.
“I would like to thank AIFF and FIFA for placing their trust in me,” Khanna said in a statement on Saturday.
“Leading the tournament in India has been a privilege and honour. I am proud of the work that has been done by the Local Organising Committee and am also grateful to the team who has shared the same vision about promoting women’s football in India.
“2022 will be a big year for football and women’s sport in India and I can’t wait to cheer the Indian women’s teams,” she added in the statement.
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das and Roma has been lauded by experts for contributing immensely in the development of Indian football in last few years.
“On behalf of AIFF and the whole football family, I would like to thank Roma for her leadership and her contribution towards Indian football which included a variety of things ….”
Das also praised Khanna for her work towards uplifting Indian football in detail.
He said that Khanna work includes “setting up the club licensing system in the I league, heading venue operations across six cities during the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, successfully bidding for two women’s football tournaments and bringing them to India, and setting up the National Centre of Excellence.” “…we’re saddened but wholeheartedly respect her personal decision and wish her all the best for the future.”
As India initially received a bid to conduct the mega event in 2020 but it was cancelled due to 2022 due to COVID-19.
As per the latest reports, AIFF is working closely with FIFA to appoint the new tournament director for both mega events which will be a landmark for Indian football in future.
