India to bid for AFC Asian Cup 2011

New Delhi, Feb 15 (UNI) In line with the country's ambitions to emerge as a football power, India will bid for the 2011 Asian Cup tournament.

Iran and Qatar are also in the fray after Australia's bid was not considered in view of AFC's zonal rotation policy under which the candidate nations for 2011 will be restricted to West Asia or Central and South Asia.

China, which belong to East Asia zone, hosted the continent's primier event in 2004 while four countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand -- belonging to Asean zone, are hosting the event this year.

India and Iran belong to Central and South Asia Zone while Qatar belong to West Asia.

India and Iran had previously indicated their interest prior to the AFC Executive Committee meeting in November 2006, the AFC said.

The three countries submitted formal applications ahead of February 9 deadline set by the AFC and they must now confirm their bids in writing by April 1 with all bid documentation to be received by the AFC by June 21.

The final decision on the host nation will be made on June 28, the day before the final of this year's Cup in Jakarta.

UNI