Asia Cup Champions India are drawn in an easy grouping for the Beijing Olympics men’s hockey qualifiers to be played in Santiago, Chile, from March 1 to 9 next year.

Besides India, ranked eighth, the other teams in the group are Austria, Bangladesh, Chile, Egypt and Great Britain, according to a communication from International Hockey Federation.

The other contenders in the group with rankings: Austria (25), Bangladesh (28), Chile (20), Egypt (18) and Great Britain (9).

Going by the recent performance of the Indian team, which retained the Asia Cup earlier this month here by defeating Asian Games Champions Korea in the final, the chances of the team making the Olympics is much brighter.

India’s victory in the Asia Cup helped the eight-time Olympic Champions overtake Argentina on points and emerge on top among the 18 qualifiers and thus enter the Chile qualifiers.

India were trailing Argentina by 32 points before the Asia Cup.

The other two qualifying tournaments would be held in North Shore City, Auckland (New Zealand - February 2 to 10) and Kakamigahara (Japan - April 5 to 13).

The Indian women’s hockey team will travel to Russia, where the qualifying tournament will be held from April 19 to 27 next year.