Asian Youth U-20 tourney off from October 29

Bangalore, Oct 23: Hosting of the Asian Youth (Under 20) Football Championship will give not only a fillip to the game in the country but also enable India get more challenging international tournaments here, All India Football Federation President Priyaranjan Das Munsi said today.

Talking to newsmen here, after reviewing the preparations for the Bangalore leg of the youth football championship, Mr Das Munsi said the event would be held simultaneously in Bangalore and Kolkata, while teams from Group 'A' and Group 'B' will be playing at Kolkata, Group 'C' and Group 'D' teams would vye for a place in the quarterfinal in Bangalore.

In the first match here at Sri Kanteerava Stadium, Japan will take on DPR Korea.

India is hosting the Asian Football Championship for the first time, he said adding that the successful conduct of it may bring in more challenging tournaments.

He said the event would be a qualifying one for selecting Asian teams for the World Under 20 Championship. Besides a cream of talented youngsters may get boost and may figure in the 2010 World Cup 2010.

Prominent teams such as Iran Saudi Arabia, Japan and DPR Korea would be playing in Bangalore, while the Indian team would be playing in Kolkata. He said the Indian team is back from Laos after practice matches. All the boys are fit and no one is in the sick list, he added.

Mr Dasmunshi said Iran and Japan have already arrived and the AFC contingent which would be administering the matches was expected in a couple of days. He said FIFA President Sepp Blatter will be visiting India for five days next year and tour important football cities. India was trying to find a place in the FIFA goal two project for a fillip to the game in the country. Under the scheme, FIFA would take up training programmes for coaches, referees and players besides helping development of football grounds in the country.

He said the teams which have arrived would practice in main ground, MEG and ASC and Centre grounds.

He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and thanked the Karnataka Government for extending necessary assistance. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will inaugurate the Bangalore leg on October 29.

Following is the groupings: Group 'A' Group 'B' Group 'C' Group 'D' Korea China Japan Iraq India Thailand Iran Malaysia Kyrgystan UAE Tajikstan Vietnam Jordan Australia DPR Korea Saudi Arabia.

UNI