Mumbai, May 24 (IANS): India have been drawn into a tough Group D along with Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Maldives, and Kuwait for the qualifying round of the AFC boys U17 Asian Cup to be held in Bahrain in 2023. The qualifying round for Group D will be played in Saudi Arabia between October 1-9 this year.

In all 44 participating nations were divided into 10 centralised qualifying groups, six of which will feature four teams, while four groups will include five sides.

India, who hosted the U17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 and will host the women's event in October this year, are in the group with five members, as per the draw conducted in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams will join Bahrain in the Finals. The dates are yet to be decided.

Defending champions Japan, who have won the title three times, were drawn in Group A alongside hosts Jordan, Syria, the Philippines and Turkmenistan. Group B will feature hosts Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine, Guam and UAE.

The groupings:

Group A: Japan, Jordan (H), Syria, Philippines, Turkmenistan.

Group B: Indonesia (H), Malaysia, Palestine, Guam, UAE.

Group C: Oman (H), Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon, Bahrain.

Group D: India, Saudi Arabia (H), Myanmar, Maldives, Kuwait.

Group E: Yemen, Bangladesh (H), Singapore, Bhutan.

Group F: Thailand, Vietnam (H), Chinese Taipei, Nepal.

Group G: Australia (H), China PR, Cambodia, N. Mariana Islands.

Group H: Tajikistan (H), Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, Mongolia.

Group I: IR Iran, Hong Kong, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Laos.

Group J: Korea Republic, Brunei Darussalam, Uzbekistan (H), Sri Lanka.