Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kathmandu: All eight participating teams in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup know that the profile of the tournament has risen significantly over the years making the competition for emerging nations one of the most intriguing events on the AFC calendar.
Nepal is hosting the AFC Challenge Cup for the first time in its history but the Himalayan nation is the fourth South Asian nation to put on the event after the three previous editions of tournament were hosted by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka in 2006, 2008 and 2010 respectively.
The inaugural tournament featured a 16-team final but the format changed to become an eight-team competition with a qualification round.
The AFC made a landmark decision in 2008 to pave the way for the winner to qualify directly to the AFC Asian Cup finals, and in 2008 India defeated Tajikistan to become the first team to benefit from this before being followed by DPR Korea two years later, with both teams receiving a ticket to the continental showpiece in Qatar in 2011.
The winner of this edition will stand shoulder to shoulder with the other Asian football powerhouses who qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup finals in Australia, giving huge importance to this edition of the biannual tournament.
The defending champions DPR Korea are the firm favourites to lift the title again but they can expect tough challenge from the likes of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Palestine, West Asia's sole representatives who have been buoyed some strong performance in the build-up to the tournament, which included an impressive 3-0 win over Azerbaijan in Dubai.
India return to competitive action in Nepal for the first time in 13 years following their gold medal triumph at the 1999 South Asian Federation Games but their confidence has been slightly shaken by the retirement of 2008 Challenge Cup MVP Baichung Bhutia, injuries to some key players and a series of unfavourable friendly results.
Hosts Nepal are expecting a capacity Dashrath Stadium crowd voicing their support to the Graham Roberts-led young side, while outsiders the Maldives and the Philippines looking to upset the form book claim a berth in the semis.
Nepal take on Palestine on Thursday, with Turkmenistan and the Maldives also in action on the same day, while DPR Korea begin the defence of their title against the Philippines on Friday, when 2008 finalists India and Tajikistan also renew acquaintances.