Thoungamba usham singh

AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers: India will begin their SAFF U17 Championship title defence against Bangladesh in the first game of Group A at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan on Friday.

Maldives are the other side in the three-team Group A, against whom India will play on September 24. Group B consists of hosts Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals on September 28, followed by the final on September 30. India were the champions in 2022, which was the previous occasion the tournament was held for the U17 age group.

Last year's edition was held for the U16 age group, and head coach Ishfaq Ahmed has retained 16 of the 23 from that squad which lifted the trophy at the very same Changlimithang Stadium, wreathed with traditional Bhutanese architecture and easily one of the most beautiful places to play football in the world.