Indian drawn with holders Maldives in SAFF C'ship

Dhaka: Four-time champions India have been clubbed with holders Maldives in Group A in the sixth South Asian Football Federation Championships to be held here from December 4-14.

Besides India and Maldives, the other two teams in Group A are Afghanistan and Nepal.

Hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bhutan were placed in Group B in the draw announced here on Saturday. The winner of the eight-team regional tournament will get $50,000 as prize money. The matches will be played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here.

India lost to Maldives 0-1 in the final of the 2008 SAFF Championships in Colombo, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and Maldives.