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Women’s Asian Cup: India sends undersized kits, staff scramble to replace
Reuters | March 3, 2026 8:57 PM CST

Synopsis

During the Women's Asian Cup, India's team had a dramatic hiccup when ill-fitting kits meant for younger athletes were shipped to them in Australia. This error jeopardised their equipment compliance before the tournament. In a race against time, the support staff collaborated with local artisans to craft a new set of jerseys overnight.

India’s senior women’s squad gets local kits after equipment mix-up in Australia. (Representative Image)
A mix-up threatened to ​spoil the start ​of India's campaign at the ​Women's Asian Cup as undersized kits made for junior teams were sent to ‌the senior ⁠squad ⁠in Australia, sending staff scrambling to get ​them made locally.

The kits, which reached the ​squad two days before their first Group C game against Vietnam in ​Perth, did not ⁠fit the ‌majority of the players ​and ​put India at risk of ⁠failing an official equipment check by ​the tournament organisers.

That could have ​put India's participation in the tournament in jeopardy, after they were forced to withdraw during the 2022 edition on home soil ‌due to a COVID outbreak in the team.


However, the staff solved the problem ⁠by getting kits made by local manufacturers overnight, an Indian soccer federation (AIFF) official told Reuters.

The players received their new shirts, shorts and socks on Tuesday, a day before their opening match.


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