National Football League champions Mahindra United are drawn in a tough group for next year's AFC Cup tournament.

The Mumbai team is placed in Group E along with Maldivian outfit New Radiant, Singapore Armed Forces FC and Happy Valley from Hong Kong.

New Radiant impressed by reaching the semi-finals of the competition in 2005, while the other two are the champions in their respective countries.

The other Indian representative in the continental competition will be the winner of the Federation Cup, currently on in Kolkata.

If Mahindra, who won the premier knock-out tournament in India last year, repeats the feat, the AFC Cup spot will go to East Bengal, who finished runners-up in the 10th NFL earlier this year.

The second Indian club will be placed in Group F, along with Thailand's Osotspa M-150, Singapore Cup winners Tampines Rovers, and Malaysian FA Cup champions Pahang.

The group stage kicks-off on March 6 and culminates on May 22.

The quarter-finals will take place on September 18 and 25 while the semi-finals are scheduled for

October 2 and 23.

The two-legged final will be held on November 2 and 9.

The six group-toppers advance to the quarter-finals along with the two best second placed finishers.