Dhaka, June 8 (PTI) Defending champions India have been joined by Maldives and Bangladesh in Group A of this year's SAFF U-17 Championship.

On Saturday, the draws for the South Asian Federation U-17 and U-20 Championships as well as the South Asian Federation Women's Championship were held.

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India are the current champions of the U-17 championship.

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The draw for the second group of this tournament will be conducted by host nation Bhutan alongside Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and is scheduled to take place from September 18 to 28.

Meanwhile, for the U-20 tournament, defending champions India have been placed in Group B along with Maldives and Bhutan.

Hosts Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are in Group A, where the competition will take place from August 16 to 28 in Kathmandu.

In the women's tournament, five-time champions India are drawn in Group A alongside defending champions Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Hosts Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan are in Group B and the event is scheduled to be held from October 17 to 30.

The tournament system remains the same – a knockout league – with the top two teams from both groups advancing to the semi-finals.

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