The Rs 8-lakh Syed Modi Memorial GP at Lucknow (Dec 11-14), the Rs 4-lakh Seniors GP at Patna (Dec 16-19), the Rs 4-lakh VV Natu Memorial Seniors GP at Pune (Jan 1-3) and the Rs 4-lakh National Sports Club of India Seniors GP in Mumbai (Jan 5-8) are the four selection events.

Bagan favourites
CALCUTTA: Boosted by a string of victories in recent times, unbeaten Mohun Bagan start favourites against giant killers Tollygunge Aggragami in the final of the 105th IFA Shield Football Tournament on Friday.

Bagan, who have lifted the Shield 19th times from 35 final appearances, emerged Group A champions with seven points, pipping Badda Jagarani (Bangladesh) 1-0 in the semis to romp into the final. Tollygunge finished runners-up in the same group with fivepoints and knocked out East Bengal 4-1 via the tie-breaker in the semis.

U-21 football
BANGALORE: Five teams will be taking part in the ninth Under-21 National Football Championship (South Zone) beginning here on November 27.

The inaugural match of the tournament, to be played on league basis, will feature Karnataka and Pondicherry.

The fixtures: Nov 27: Karnataka vs Pondicherry. Nov 28: Andhra Pradesh vs Kerala, Tamil Nadu vs Pondicherry. Nov 29: Kerala vs Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh vs Karnataka. Nov 30: Rest Day. Dec 1: Andhra Pradesh vs Pondicherry, Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu. Dec 2: Kerala vs Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh vs Tamil Nadu. Dec 3: Karnataka vs Kerala.

Babu beats Thipsay
HYDERABAD: Top seed and Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay (3 points) of Union Bank of India (UBI) lost to International Master and fourth seed N Sudhakar Babu (4) of Indian Bank (IB) in the fourth round of the All-India Inter-bank chess tournament.

International Master Sharad Tilak of UBI shares thetop spot with four points after defeating Hari Haran of Indian Bank.

Event postponed
KOCHI: The second Asian Individual Chess Championship, scheduled at Udaipur from December 1-12 has been postponed to January 10. According to a fax received from All India Chess Federation, the postponement is due `to unavoidable reasons.'

-- ENS & Agencies