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THE national Under-23 football team are destined for an early flight home from the Guangzhou Asian Games on Nov 12-25 after being drawn with heavyweights China and Japan yesterday.

With only the six group winners and the two best runners-up advancing to the quarter-finals, Malaysia have little chance of extending their stay in Guangzhou beyond Nov 13.

But the experience of playing hosts China, 2002 silver medalists Japan and Kyrguzstan in Group A should hold K. Rajagobal's team in good stead for December's AFF Suzuki Cup in Jakarta.

Football kicks off on Nov 7 with the final scheduled for the last day of the Games.

MEN'S DRAW -- Group A: China, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan, Japan; Group B: Iran, Vietnam, Bahrain, Turkmenistan; Group C: South Korea, Palestine, Jordan, North Korea; Group D: Qatar, Kuwait, India, Singapore; Group E: Uzbekistan, UAE, Hong Kong, Bangladesh; Group F: Iraq, Maldives, Oman, Thailand.