Tough draw for Delhi;TN

It wouldn’t make an iota of difference to top-seeded Airports Authority of India and No. 2 Maharashtra who their opponents would be in the Second Stage draw of the Youth Girls section. However, it does make a world of difference to the teams that were drawn against the top two seeds. Hosts Himachal were draw against AAI and Tamil Nadu, struggling to find their feet, were drawn to play Maharashtra A. As for third seeded Telangana and fourth seeded North Bengal, they have their opponents in Maharashtra B, a tough team but beatable, and Haryana, an easy prey.

On the scales of the toughest and the easiest, Delhi team faces a resolute Assam—the northeastern outfit felled last year’s semifinalist Kerala—and Uttar Pradesh take on a weak Pondicherry. Yet, there could be some interesting pre-quarterfinal encounters between West Bengal and Gujarat as well as Karnataka and Rajasthan, placed in the top and bottom halves, respectively.

North Bengal play Rajasthan

North Bengal team found itself pitted against title-contender Rajasthan in the Youth Boys section during open draw. Rajasthan, along with holders Maharashtra A, the top-seed, and second seed Delhi are the favourites to win the crown here. Maharashtra A will pay Bihar in the pre-quarterfinals. Third and fourth seeds Dena Bank and Karnataka were drawn against Telangana and Maharashtra B while Madhya Pradesh take on West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh face Gujarat in the top half. In bottom half, Mizoram play Tamil Nadu and Delhi meet Punjab.