2008 AFC Challange Cup winners India. (AFP)

KUALA LUMPUR: Launched with the aim of providing an international platform to Asia’s emerging national teams, the successful second edition of the AFC Challenge Cup can claim to have achieved its objectives.

Not only did the tournament pitchfork eventual champions India into the elite AFC Asian Cup 2011 - after 1984 - but it has also marked the beginning of a new chapter in the chequered history of the game in the second most populous country in the world.

India figures high on AFC’s radar of football development and their title triumph in the AFC Challenge Cup - deeply rooted in the Vision Asia philosophy of fair play and the importance of team participation within a highly competitive environment - was a fitting tribute to AFC’s revolutionary football development project.

Tajikistan, the previous champions, saw their stock go soaring in the FIFA World Ranking after their win in the inaugural edition in Bangladesh two years ago and Bob Houghton’s Bhangra Boys, who currently sit at 153rd, can expect the same in the new order.

The competition was also perfect testimony to the great potential little fancied teams like Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka hold and the need to unleash them on the right stage to up their confidence levels and profile which has been hitherto limited to regional tournaments.

The great Indian victory was hailed by AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam.

"Congratulations to India on their excellent victory in the AFC Challenge Cup,” said Bin Hammam.

“India has immense potential as a footballing nation and I am delighted that they made the most of this tournament to highlight their talent and skills.”

"The AFC Challenge Cup is aimed at giving second-tier nations a chance to fight for glory and India grabbed the chance with both hands. They now have a great opportunity to prove themselves once again when they compete in the 2011 Asian Cup."

At a time when Olympic fever has the country in its thrall, the AFC Challenge Cup convincingly won the battle for the eyeball and was toasted all round by the appreciative media who have hailed it as a new dawn for Indian football which has flattered to deceive more often than not in the recent past.

With little more than two years to go for the signature tournament of Asia in Doha, only time will tell if the AFC Challenge Cup victory will spur India towards reclaiming their lost glory but there is little doubt that the tournament has done its bit in restoring the sheen to the beautiful game in the subcontinent.