Bagan face Sporting in Fed Cup opener

Sporting had made it to the main round of the country’s premier league-cum- knockout tournament through the qualifying event at Nagaon in Assam.

The opening day will see two matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, the second being between Mumbai side Mahindra United and another Kolkata outfit, Chirag United, in Group B.

I-League champions Chur-chill Brothers begin their campaign at the SM Dev stadium in Silchar on Monday in a Group C match against Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club of Bangalore, who also made it to the main event after winning the qualifying round in Mumbai.

The winner from each of the four groups will make it to the semifinals slated for December 30. The final will be held on January 3.

Bagan, who have won the tournament 13 times, will look to defend their title as that will give them another chance to do well at the Asian level.

They have brought a strong team here with talismanic Brazilian striker Jose Ramirez Barretto looking for his sixth Federation Cup title in Bagan colours.