Defending champions Punjab will take on Services while hosts Jammu and Kashmir face Kerala on the first day of the quarter-finals of the 62nd Santosh Trophy national football championship here on Thursday.Punjab, Kerala, J&K and Services have been clubbed in Group A while Group B comprises of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, according to the draws announced today. The four teams in each group will play a round-robin league and the top two will qualify for the semi-finals.The top two teams in each group — Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala and Maharashtra — had got direct entry into the last eight stage by virtue of finishing as last edition’s semi-finalists, while J&K, Services, Goa and Karnataka made the grade after the league and pre-quarterfinal rounds. Of the four teams coming through the qualifying rounds, only former champions Goa and hosts Jammu and Kashmir have won all their matches.The semi-finals will be held here on June 12 and 13 and the final on June 15.
