India coach Houghton: We have tough group in Asian Cup

India national team coach Bob Houghton believes his team has drawn an extremely tough group for the 2011 Asian Cup.

The Bhangra Boys will face Asian powerhouse Australia and South Korea as well as Bahrain in Group C of the competition which takes place in Qatar in January next year and Houghton understands it will be very tough for a team who qualified for their first continental tournament in 27 years to perform well.

“My first reaction is that ours is probably the toughest group with the number one ranked team in Asia (Australia), the third ranked team in Asia (South Korea) and Bahrain who are also in the top six of Asia whereas if you see there is one group (Group A) which has no team from the top six,” Houghton told Goal.com.

“In a major competition, even if you get past the group stages you play the best ones. Sooner or later you are going to face them while in our case, we are facing them first.

“I think it’s a great opportunity as it will create a lot of media interest, spectator interest as India play the best players in Asia. All in all, it’s a good stage for us. I’m looking forward to it. Who knows what will happen?"