Fifa has granted the two-star status required to host international matches to the artificial turf of the renovated Salt Lake Stadium. “This is the highest level of award given by Fifa. This is the first artificial turf football ground in the SAARC region to have received the two-star recommended certificate,” a statement by the state's information and cultural affairs department said.

The Park drew with American Centre 2-2, while Bharat Petroleum drew with HT media 1-1 in the Calcutta Rangers Club organised five-a-side Mercantile football tournament on Thursday. In other ties, Eveready beat Andrew Yule 1-0 and MN Dastur drew with United Conveyor 0-0.

East Bengal beat Kumartuli Insititute by 249 runs in an AN Ghosh Memorial Trophy match, on Thursday. In another tie, Town Club defeated ABP by six wickets.

Summarised scores

East Bengal 432/6. Kumartuli 183 (N. Das 5/28, B.Chowdhury 3/33). EB won by 249 runs.

ABP 251. Town Club 252/4 (Soumya Ghosh 118 ..; Gitimoy Basu 57). Town won by 6 wkts.

The 46th Locuzade floodlit tennis tournament will be held at the Saturday Club from Saturday to December 11.

Second seeded Sanil Jagtiani and Eklavya Singh won the Under-14 doubles title in the Go Cheese-AITA junior tennis meet at Shambazar Tennis Club. They defeated Avilash Mishra and Nishant Kumar 6-4, 6-2.

The 72nd Senior National Table Tennis Championships will be held at the Netaji Indoor Stadium from January 17-23.