TITLE HOLDER MYANMAR SET TO DEFEND CROWN

Slated for 8-21 October 2008, the Myanmar women national team had already started centralised training earlier this month.

Myanmar have been placed in Group A against Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and host Vietnam.

Group B will have newcomers Australia, the Philippines, Singapore and last year’s runners-up Thailand.

The Myanmar women’s national team were crowned winners at the 2007 edition after beating tournament favourites Thailand 4-2 on penalties.

The score at the end of extra-time was 1-1.

The Myanmar team are likely to be the same side which finished third at the SEA Games last year where they lost 2-1 to Vietnam in the semi-finals before beating Laos 5-0 in the third place play-off.

Myanmar failed to make the final round of the 2008 AFC Women’s Championship this year where after beating Iran 2-1 in their first match of the qualifiers, they lost 3-0 to Chinese Taipei and then 1-0 to Vietnam.