India get tough groups in FIFA World Cup & Asian Cup Qualifiers as well as Asian Games

INDIAN FOOTBALL TEAM GOT challenging groups in three different competitions in the official draw of lots today.

Firstly, the senior men's team got its work cut out in the upcoming FIFA World Cup/AFC Asian Cup joing qualifiers round 2, when they were placed in Group A along with Asian champions Qatar, Kuwait and the winner of Afghanistan/Mongolia.

While Qatar are a much higher ranked and successful team than India; Kuwait, who are ranked lower than the Blue Tigers, recently played India twice in Bengaluru and did not lose (India beat them once in penalties, which will not be available in the qualifier group matches).

At the Asian Games, where the U-23 men's team will play along with 3 senior player, India were paired in Group A along with hosts China, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Here, India are facing teams that they have done well against in senior football but due to the competition being a mostly U-23 affair there's an unknown element involved. However, India's chances of making it to the next round are substantial.

In the women's competition at the Asian Games, the Indian senior women's team will face Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and Thailand. Both of them are strong teams; and the Blue Tigresses will have to fight hard for each and every point.

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