China U-23 Olympic football team has avoided a big clash with strong rival Iraq at the group stage in Doha Asiad following a draw ceremony on Sunday.

China had been grouped with Iraq, Oman and Malaysia in Group E of the Doha Games, and had been scheduled to take on Iraq on Nov. 29 in the first match. But things changed after Iran's withdrawal from the Games' soccer competitions due to FIFA's suspension, and Yemen and Turkmenistan's pull-out, and a new round of draw concerning five teams Iraq, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Syria were arranged on Sunday.

After the fresh draw, Iraq moved to Group D to take Iran's place and Syria filled Iraq's booth in Group E.

Although China could take advantage of the change, they are likely to meet Iraq in the quarter-finals. The newly-signed head coach of the Chinese U-23 team, Ratomir Dujkovic from Serbia, is ambitious to lead the squad to the final at the Doha Games.

The Chinese national team ground out a loss and a draw with Iraq at the two-legged Asian Cup qualifiers this year.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2006)