New Delhi: India’s chances of making the final rounds of the AFC Challenge Cup were dashed on Tuesday when they failed to qualify as one of the two best losers in the 20-team competition divided into five groups.

As per the tournament rule, five group winners along with two best second finishers and hosts Maldives would play in the eight-team final rounds to be played in 2014. The winners of the tournament would earn a spot in the Asia Cup finals.

After losing the top spot in group A to Myanmar earlier this month, the only way that was left for India to go to Maldives was by ending up as one of the two best losers. However, the two places have gone to Bangladesh (ranked 157) and Turkmenistan (140).

The five group winners are — Myanmar (155), Kyrgyzstan (201), Afghanistan (141), Palestine (150) and the Philippines (145). Except Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, all other teams are ranked below India (143) in the latest Fifa rankings.