AFC U-22 Asian Cup

Kuala Lumpur: Continental youth action promises to be more exciting with the draw set for the qualifiers of new championship AFC U-22 Asian Cup and 39 countries having submitted their interest to participate.

The draw date has been set on February 14, 2012, at 11:00 hrs, at AFC House, for the qualification campaign which will be held this year.

The first edition is expected to be held in June 2013 while the next edition of the biennial competition will serve as qualifiers for the 2016 Olympics.

The 39 countries who had submitted their intention to participate by the deadline of January 13 are Bahrain, Bangladesh, China PR, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor Leste, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.