<p>Defending champions India were handed a relatively easier draw on Tuesday for the South Asian Football Federation Championship which begins here on September 1.<br /><br /></p>.<p>India, the second highest ranked team at 146, have been pooled in Group ‘A’ alongside hosts and last edition semifinalists Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the biennial regional tournament.<br />Last edition runners-up and highest ranked team in the tournament, Afghanistan (140th), 2008 edition champions Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan form the Group B in the September 1-11 event.<br /><br />Afghanistan had drawn with India 1-1 at the group stage in the 2011 edition in New Delhi though they lost in the final. Maldives are the fourth highest-ranked team at 154th.<br />India will open their campaign against neighbours Pakistan on September 1. They will clash with Bangladesh and Nepal on September 3 and 5 respectively.<br /><br />Top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals to be played on September 8.<br />The winners of the tournament will get USD 50,000 while the runners-up with pocket USD 25,000. The two losing semifinalists will get USD 10,000 each.<br /><br />The draw was conducted by Harish Krishnamachar, WSG senior Vice-President and Country head, and attended by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Ganesh Thapa and SAFF President Kazi Mohammed Salahuddin. <br /><br />India have just one international friendly to play, against Tajikistan on August 14 in Dushanbe, before the eight-team SAFF Championships.</p>
<p>Defending champions India were handed a relatively easier draw on Tuesday for the South Asian Football Federation Championship which begins here on September 1.<br /><br /></p>.<p>India, the second highest ranked team at 146, have been pooled in Group ‘A’ alongside hosts and last edition semifinalists Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the biennial regional tournament.<br />Last edition runners-up and highest ranked team in the tournament, Afghanistan (140th), 2008 edition champions Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan form the Group B in the September 1-11 event.<br /><br />Afghanistan had drawn with India 1-1 at the group stage in the 2011 edition in New Delhi though they lost in the final. Maldives are the fourth highest-ranked team at 154th.<br />India will open their campaign against neighbours Pakistan on September 1. They will clash with Bangladesh and Nepal on September 3 and 5 respectively.<br /><br />Top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals to be played on September 8.<br />The winners of the tournament will get USD 50,000 while the runners-up with pocket USD 25,000. The two losing semifinalists will get USD 10,000 each.<br /><br />The draw was conducted by Harish Krishnamachar, WSG senior Vice-President and Country head, and attended by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Ganesh Thapa and SAFF President Kazi Mohammed Salahuddin. <br /><br />India have just one international friendly to play, against Tajikistan on August 14 in Dushanbe, before the eight-team SAFF Championships.</p>