China gearing up for Olympic football qualifiers (2)

Karimov Otabek (L) of Tajikistan competes during the match between China U22 and Tajikistan U22 at CFA Team China W.O Cup International Football Tournament in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

The championship also doubles as the qualifying tournament for the 2020 Olympic Games, with the top three teams joining hosts Japan as Asia's representatives in Tokyo next summer.

The Thailand-based tournament sees 16 teams divided into four groups, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout stage. China has been drawn into Group C along with South Korea, Iran and Uzbekistan.

The AFC U-23 Championship will take place across the cities of Bangkok, Buriram and Songkhla from January 8 to 26, 2020.