Shanghai: India did not figure in the final list of participating nations in the revamped AFC Champions League but they can still make the elite grade if they manage to win their group in the play-offs to be held in February next year.

The AFC Pro League ad-hoc committee, in their final meeting on Tuesday, selected 10 nations for direct entry into next year’s Champions League scheduled to kick off from March 10, pruning the list from 14 which had included India.

India, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will enter one club each in the play-offs and one in the AFC Cup.

The winners and runners-up of the AFC Cup 2008 will also get a berth in the play-offs. (PTI)