Indian football team qualifies for AFC Under 16 Championship

Indian football team qualified for the AFC Under 16 Championship to be held next year in Malaysia after finishing second in their group qualifying round played in Kathmandu yesterday. India qualified as one of the six best second-placed teams from the group matches of qualifying round. 

All the matches of each of the 10 groups were played in a single venue. India were placed in Group D along with Iraq, Palestine and hosts Nepal. They beat Palestine (3-0) and drew against Nepal (2-2) and group toppers Iraq (0-0) to



collect five points and finished second. 

Besides India, the other five best second-placed teams to qualify for the Championships are Oman, Thailand, Vietnam and Afghanistan. 

All the winners of the 10 groups -- South Korea, Australia, North Korea, Japan, Jordan, Iraq, Indonesia, Iran, Tajikistan and Yemen -- qualified. Hosts Malaysia qualified automatically. 

Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and China failed to qualify for the Championships.