Dasmunshi claims India has arrived on the soccer scene

8220;It was a fabulous win. I hope this victory will help India compete with the best in Asia. It will help the profile of the game rise in the country. We purposefully decided to host this tournament and I thank the AFC for awarding us the event,8221; said Dasmunshi.

The AIFF President also said that despite qualifying for 2011 Asian Cup, India will host the AFC Challenge Cup in 2010 again. The winners of 2008 and 2010 AFC Challenge Cup tournaments qualify for 2011 Asian Cup, but since India has qualified the AFC will decide whether the runners-up of the 2010 edition will make it to 2011 Asian Cup.

Besides India, hosts Qatar, 2007 edition winners Iraq, runners-up Saudi Arabia and third-place finisher South Korea have already made it to 2011 Asian Cup.