KATHMANDU, Aug 5: Nepal has been grouped together with India, Bangladesh and Myanmar in the qualifying games for the women’s football category in the 2020 Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan.

The first round of the Asian qualifying for Nepal will begin on coming November 8 with a game against India, according to calendar released on Saturday.

Likewise, Nepal will face Myanmar on November 11 and Bangladesh on November 13.

A total of 18 countries are taking part in the first phase of qualifying among the Asian countries. They have been divided into four groups of four and Nepal is in Group ‘C’. Of them 12 including the group winners and runners-up and the best two among the remaining go to the second round. However, only two will qualify for the Olympics from Asia, as Japan qualifies automatically as the host nation.

A total of 12 countries will compete for the gold medal in women’s football category. RSS

“Why would we want to punish U.S. athletes who’ve been training for three years to compete in the Olympics over a traitor who can’t find a place to call home?” Boehner told reporters at a news conference.

The Ohio Republican was asked about Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham’s idea that if Russia provides a safe haven for Snowden, the United States should consider keeping its athletes home during the 2014 Winter Olympics next February.

Boehner said Graham was “dead wrong.”

Snowden, who disclosed details about U.S. intelligence surveillance of Internet activity, has applied for temporary asylum in Russia three weeks after arriving at a Moscow airport from Hong Kong. The United States wants Snowden sent home to face prosecution for espionage.

Snowden’s fate has roiled already tense U.S.-Russian relations.

In the 1980s, the United States boycotted the Olympics over Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.