GUWAHATI: The 133rd edition of Indian Oil Durand Cup football tournament, the season opener of Indian Football, will kick off on July 27 with the final scheduled for August 31.
This was announced by HQ Eastern Command of the Indian Army, on behalf of the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS), which will organise this year’s edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament.
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Continuing with its commitment to spread the reach of the Durand Cup further into the East and Northeast, two new cities, Jamshedpur and Shillong, have been added as host cities this year. Kokrajhar in Assam will be playing host for the second consecutive year, besides Kolkata, which has been a host for the last five years.
The 133rd edition will see 24 teams with representation from the widest possible spectrum of Indian football, like the Indian Super League, I-League and other invitational teams, as well as teams from the armed forces. Also, like last year, international teams are expected to participate this year too.
Commenting on the preparations, Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, said, “The Durand Cup is a source of immense pride for the Eastern Command. The event has become a cornerstone in the landscape of Indian football and a beacon of sporting excellence. Football is more than just a sport. It is a unifying force that brings together people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life. It embodies the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and fair play. The Durand Cup, with its long-standing tradition, epitomizes these values and continues to inspire countless young athletes to dream big and strive for excellence. We in the military take great pride in organising the Durand Cup and it also strengthens civil-military relationship in the country. We sincerely thank the State Governments of all the four states for their unrelenting support. This year, the Durand Cup promises to be more exciting and competitive than ever before. I wish all involved yet another successful Durand Cup Tournament and may the best team win.”
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