Central Asian futsal talent on show in Dushanbe

The competition will be played over a five-match round-robin basis, with the regional champions to be decided on Wednesday.

Back to back Asian champions at the senior women’s level, Islamic Republic of Iran are considered the tournament favourites with a number of players benefitting from the experience of playing in the nation’s Women’s Futsal League.

Iran will meet tournament hosts Tajikistan on Matchday One, with their campaign to conclude against Kyrgyz Republic on Matchday Five.

Kyrgyz Republic will begin their title bid against Uzbekistan, with head coach Kelkel Anarbekov using the competition to prepare players for both junior and senior events to come in 2020.

“This tournament is one of the stages of preparation for the AFC Championship, which will be held in July this year,” said Anarbekov, who represented the Kyrgyz Republic men’s national team at the AFC Futsal Championship Finals in 2012 and 2018.

Afghanistan and Turkmenistan round out the opening day schedule, with three matches to be held each day excluding Monday until the tournament concludes.