General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Alex Soosay holds up a slip of paper carrying the name India during the final draw for the 2011 Asian Cup soccer tournament at the Aspire Dome in Doha on Friday. Asia’s top-ranked team Australia were pitted against fellow World Cup finalists South Korea for the AFC Asian Cup 2011, to be held in Qatar from January 7 to 29, 2011. (AFP)
NEW DELHI: India were handed the worst possible draw for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals as they were clubbed with Australia, South Korea and Bahrain in Group C at Doha, Qatar on Friday.
India got a tough group featuring Australia and South Korea - two sides who have qualified for 2010 World Cup from Asia - and Bahrain, who just missed out the showpiece event in South Africa via a play-off against New Zealand.
Australia are Asia’s highest FIFA ranked side at 19th while South Korea are third highest at 49th besides finishing third in the earlier edition in 2007.
Bahrain are ranked 67th in the world. India were the lowest FIFA ranked side among the 16 teams at 132nd.
Hosts Qatar, who have seeded first, were clubbed in Group A with Kuwait, China and Uzbekistan while defending champions Iraq were placed in Group D along with DPR Korea, Iran and United Arab Emirates.
Last edition runners-up Saudi Arabia got the company of Japan, Jordan and Syria.
India were seeded 15th ahead of DPR Korea in the draw ceremony at Aspire Dome in Doha. They were placed in Pot Four along with Syria, Kuwait and DPR Korea.
Asian Football Confederation general secretary and competition director Zhang Jilong of China conducted the draw of lots. The 12-member organising committee, headed by Jilong had seeded the 16 teams according to results in AFC Asian Cup 2007 (finals and qualifiers). The schedule of the tournament will be announced on April 26.
