India to meet Palestine in Nehru Cup opener

NEW DELHI: India will begin their title defence in the Nehru Cup against Palestine at the Ambedkar Stadium on August 19.

Palestine were drafted into the six-team biennial event as a last-minute replacement for Thailand. Lebanon will complete this group.

Group B includes Syria, who lost to India in the 2007 final, Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka.

Releasing the draw, All India Football Federation (AIFF) Acting President Praful Patel said the tournament would allow India to show its talent.

“The Nehru Cup is India’s most prestigious tournament. Not only does it give our team a chance to play at the international level, it also allows us to show our talent that we are in a good position to compete at the international level,” he was quoted as saying by The Telegraph daily.

The Bob Houghton-led India are expected to return from their month-long Barcelona tour on Friday and have another camp in Gurgaon from August 12 till the start of the Nehru Cup.