India launches new league with glitzy opening ceremony

KOLKATA, Oct 13 (AFP): India's new football league kicked off Sunday with a spirited clash and a glitzy pyrotechnic opening ceremony that organisers hope will ignite the country's passion for the "beautiful game".

Atletico de Kolkata trounced Mumbai City 3-0 in the first match of the Indian Super League (ISL), that has lured former international stars such as Spain's Luis Garcia and France's Nicolas Anelka out of retirement.

Cricketing hero Sourav Ganguly said the league was the beginning of something great, arguing there was room for football in the cricket-obsessed country of 1.25 billion people.

"It may not be cricket but it will be the next biggest sport," Ganguly, co-owner of Kolkata, told AFP just ahead of kick-off in the eastern city.