A 23-member Indian national football team left New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the AFC Challenge Cup which starts in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Thursday. India have been clubbed with North Korea, Philippines and Tajikistan in Group B, while Group A consists of hosts Nepal, Maldives, Palestine and Turkmenistan.The winner of the tournament will earn a ticket to play in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. India play their first match against Tajikistan on Friday.