Football-Women's flag competitors see rapid growth as sport returns to World Games

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Momentum is building for women's flag football as top competitors face off at the World Games for a second time beginning on Thursday in Chengdu, with the sport's Olympic debut three years away.

Mexico captain Diana Flores, who led her country to the inaugural flag football gold at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, hopes to retain that title at a pivotal moment for the sport.

"It has been amazing to see the growth of flag football in the past, not only three years, but in the past five years, just the amount of opportunities that the sport is opening now for the next generations is insane," Flores, a pioneer in the sport, told reporters.

Eight women's teams will face off in the four-day tournament, offering a glimpse of what fans might expect when the sport joins the Olympic programme for the first time at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Mexico's win three years ago in Birmingham reflected the global nature of the sport, a non-tackle version of the gridiron game long associated with the United States' NFL that has developed a formidable pool of international talent.

"Many people who didn't know about the sport maybe started to pay attention to this, started to be part of the movement, and started to be interested about it, and that alone helped the sport grow," said Flores.

The women's game got the benefit of the Super Bowl spotlight in New Orleans this year, as the NFL ramps up its promotion in an effort to attract the next generation into the sport.

"In the years since Birmingham has happened, from then to now, (it) has just spiraled in so many opportunities on and off the field," said Vanita Krouch, a 44-year-old U.S. quarterback who will take the field again after helping the Americans to silver in 2022.

"We're all chasing the same dream right now."