Iran, who will be gunning for their tenth title, were placed in Group B alongside Australia, Kuwait and Central Asians Tajikistan for the 16-team event.

Japan, who are hoping for a repeat of their 2006 success at the same venue, will have to negotiate a tricky path to the last eight after being pooled in Group D with last edition’s semi-finalists China, Turkmenistan and Iraq.

Hosts Uzbekistan have received a relatively easy group when they were slotted in Group A with Chinese Taipei, Indonesia and Lebanon.

Thailand, last edition’s runners-up and one of the strongest teams in Asia, were drawn in Group C with three-time semi-finalists Kyrgyzstan, Korea Republic and Vietnam.

The top-two teams in each group progress to the quarter-finals of the May 23-30 competition.

THE GROUPINGS

Group A

Uzbekistan
Chinese Taipei
Indonesia
Lebanon

Group B

Iran
Kuwait
Australia
Tajikistan

Group C

Thailand
Vietnam
Korea Republic
Kyrgyzstan

Group D

Japan
Turkmenistan
Iraq
China