Durand Cup: Dempo skip; East Bengal, Chirag will play

New Delhi: Sixteen-time champions East Bengal will open their campaign against Air India in the quarterfinal league stage while Goa`s Dempo Sports Club will be missing in action from the 123rd edition of the Durand Cup football tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium here.

East Bengal have been grouped with Salgaocar and Air India in Group 4 while defending champions Churchill Brothers are clubbed with Army Red and a qualifier. Churchill will face the qualifier in the opening match of the quarterfinal league stage Oct 27. JCT, Sporting Clube de Goa are in Group 3 with a qualifier while Chirag United, Pune FC and a qualifier are in Group 2. The semi-finals are slated for Nov 3 and 4 while the final will be played Nov 7. IANS