Published: 18:05, February 21, 2020 | Updated: 07:33, June 6, 2023
Wang Shuang to miss Olympic qualifier playoffs against S. Korea
By Xinhua

China's Wang Shuang shoots during a Group C match against Denmark at the Algarve Cup 2019 in Santo Antonio, Portugal, March 4, 2019. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - The China's women's football team star Wang Shuang will miss China's two-legged Olympic qualification playoffs against South Korea due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The 25-year-old former Paris Saint Germain player was staying with her family for the Chinese lunar new year holiday in the coronavirus outbreak epicenter Wuhan, when the city was locked down on January 23 to reduce the spread of the virus.

Wang, who was stranded in the Hubei province capital city and had to sit out China's Olympic qualification group matches, will have to miss their playoffs against South Korea

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Wang, who was stranded in the Hubei province capital city and had to sit out China's Olympic qualification group matches, will have to miss their playoffs against South Korea, a Chinese Football Association (CFA) source said on Friday.

"Given the virus containment requirements, it is impossible for her to join the Chinese team as long as Wuhan remains in lockdown. Unfortunately, she will miss the playoffs against South Korea," the CFA source said.

READ MORE: China survive virus quarantine to rout Thailand at Olympic qualifier

On the same day, the Asian Football Confederation confirmed that China will play their home leg in Sydney on March 11. The Chinese side will play the away leg in Seoul on March 6.

It was reported that three more players had been recruited to reinforce the Chinese side. Before joining the Chinese team, these unnamed players will go to Thailand and stay there for several days to meet Australia's quarantine demands.

Players of China line up before the Women's Olympic Football Tournament 2020 Qualifiers match between China and Chinese Taipei in Sydney, Australia, on Feb 10, 2020. (HU JINGCHEN / XINHUA)

China's head coach Jia Xiuquan (1st L) and players react after the Women's Olympic Football Tournament 2020 Qualifiers match between Australia and China in Sydney, Australia, Feb 13, 2020. (BAI XUEFEI / XINHUA)