Heavy snowfall threatens to postpone AFC U23 Championship final
Friday, January 26, 2018, 12:03 GMT+7
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has yet to confirm whether the final game of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in China, currently scheduled for Saturday afternoon, will be called off due to heavy snowfall.
As Vietnam make last-minute preparations for their first AFC U23 title match against Uzbekistan in the Chinese city of Changzhou, heavy snowfall on Thursday is threatening to postpone the historic match.
Temperatures in Changzhou dropped to -3oC on Thursday, bringing snow and biting winds, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported from the hotel where Vietnamese players are staying.
Layers of ice blanketing that city’s streets brought local traffic to a standstill.
The Vietnamese players and team staff, many of whom had never before seen snow in real life, were quick to rush into the cold to snap photos.
South Korean head coach Park Hang-seo opted to relocate a planned practice session from the football pitch to a basketball court at a local indoor facility.
Vietnamese players train on a basketball court at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Clip: Tuoi Tre
As of Thursday afternoon, snowplows were still clearing the knee-deep snow covering the field at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center while giant canvases were used to cover the seats and stadium surfaces.
The AFC has yet to announce a postponement of the final game, as the weather is forecast to warm up on Friday and Saturday.
If nothing changes, the final between Vietnam and Uzbekistan will take place at 3:00 pm on Saturday.
The game will be aired live on VTV6 and Fox Sports with Vietnamese and English commentaries, respectively.
A snowplow clears the stadium at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre
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| A worker clears the stadium at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| The stadium at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center in Changzhou, China is covered in snow, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Workers clear the stadium at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnamese players play in the snow in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Heavy snowfall in Changzhou, China, January 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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