New Delhi: Asia Cup champions India have been drawn in an easy group for the Beijing Olympic hockey qualifiers (men), to be played in Chile’s Santiago from March 1 to 9.

Besides India, the other teams in the group are Austria, Bangladesh, Chile, Egypt and Great Britain, according to a release from the FIH.

The Asia Cup triumph notwithstanding, Prabodh Tirkey-led India stayed in the seventh spot in men’s hockey rankings, while the women’s team maintained the 13th position.

The men’s team has, however, managed to close the gap with No. 6 Argentina and are now just 37 points behind the South Americans with a tally of 1078. (PTI)