India open AFC Challenge Cup campaign against Kyrgyzstan

Kuala Lumpur: Defending champions India open their campaign against Kyrgyzstan on February 17 next year in

the AFC Challenge Cup in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Two days later, India take on Turkmenistan in their Group B match before their final group game on February 21 against DPR Korea, who finished third in the last edition hosted and won by India. On the opening day of the tournament, whose winners will qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, on February 16, last edition runners-up Tajikistan play Bangladesh while hosts Sri Lanka take on Myanmar in Group A matches. India qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar after winning the AFC Challenge Cup at home last year. If India win the tournament this time again, the runners-up side will qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Tournament schedule: Feb 16: Tajikistan v Bangladesh, Myanmar v Sri Lanka Feb 17: India v Kyrgyzstan, DPR Korea v Turkmenistan Feb 18: Bangladesh v Myanmar, Sri Lanka v Tajikistan Feb 19: Kyrgyzstan v DPR Korea, Turkmenistan v India Feb 20: Tajikistan v Myanmar, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh Feb 21: India v DPR Korea, Turkmenistan v Kyrgyzstan Feb 24: Semifinals Feb 27: Third-place play-off and final. PTI