India Set to Defend Titles in Upcoming SAFF Championships

Defending champions India have been grouped with Maldives and Bangladesh in Group A for this year's SAFF U-17 Championship. The draw also placed India in Group B for the U-20 Championship and Women's Championship. The tournaments, held from August to October, follow a league-cum-knockout format.

India, the defending champions, find themselves grouped with Maldives and Bangladesh in Group A for this year's SAFF U-17 Championship. The draw, conducted on Saturday, also included the U-20 Championship and the SAFF Women's Championship. India, the reigning U-17 champions, will face champions and hosts Bhutan, along with Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, in Group B of the tournament, running from September 18 to 28.

For the U-20 Championship, India is set for Group B along with Maldives and Bhutan. Hosts Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka fill Group A, competing between August 16-28 in Kathmandu.

In the Women's Championship, five-time champions India have been placed in Group A alongside reigning champions Bangladesh and Pakistan. Hosts Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bhutan are in Group B, with the event scheduled from October 17-30. The tournament format remains a league-cum-knockout, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.