AFC Challenge Cup 2014:India submits bid to host AFC Challenge Cup 2014

The Indian FA has lodged its proposal to host the Challenge Cup in the year 2014, hoping that the Men in Blue do qualify for the same. India has submitted its bid to host the final rounds of the AFC Challenge Cup which is to be played in February - March in 2014. The winners of this tournament will qualify directly for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.
   "We have already sent our bid and our chances of getting to stage the tournament are high," said AIFF general secretary Kushal Das to the Telegraph. 

  India has hosted this tournament in the past. In 2008, they took over from Thailand who had backed out at the eleventh hour. The Indian team, coached then by Bob Houghton, won the tournament beating Tajikistan in the final and qualified for the Asian Cup for the first time in 24 years.
  Das explained that the eight-team tournament could be held in two places -Delhi and Goa. "While the Nehru Stadium and Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi have floodlights, the same is available at Goa's Nehru Stadium in Margao," added Das.
  India played in the AFC Challenge Cup early in 2012 at Kathmandu, but lost all of their group stage matches. India have to qualify for the Final of AFC Challenge cup