Guwahati, July 16: The Trophy Tour of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup reached Guwahati on Thursday, with Assam reaffirming its commitment to developing football at the grassroots as the state prepares to host the tournament for a fifth consecutive year.
The ceremonial trophy display and press conference were held at Hotel Vivanta, where the iconic Durand Cup, President’s Cup and Shimla Trophy were unveiled ahead of their two-day tour across the city.
The event was attended by Assam Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Biswajit Daimary, Special Secretary of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department Kausar Jamil Hilaly, Major General Dinesh Kumar Singh, General Officer Commanding, Bengal Sub Area and Vice Chairman of the Durand Cup Organising Committee, Major General Amit Dhir, Chief of Staff, Gajraj Corps, Brigadier Anupam Sharma, Commander, Invictus Brigade, Director of Sports and Youth Welfare Ankur Bharali, and NorthEast United FC forward Parthib Gogoi.
Addressing the gathering, Daimary said Assam remains committed to strengthening football from the grassroots by creating better infrastructure and opportunities for young players.
“Football is deeply rooted in Assam’s sporting culture, and hosting the Durand Cup is both a matter of pride and an opportunity to inspire the next generation. We must move beyond simply identifying talent to creating it through structured grassroots development, quality infrastructure and sustained institutional support,” he said.
Major General Dinesh Kumar Singh described the Durand Cup as more than just a football tournament, saying it continues to inspire aspiring footballers across the North East while strengthening India’s football ecosystem through opportunities for emerging talent.
Representing defending champions NorthEast United FC, Parthib Gogoi said winning last year’s title had reinforced the importance of resilience and hard work, adding that the club is eager to begin its title defence in front of home supporters.
Following the ceremony, the three trophies embarked on a two-day roadshow across Guwahati, making stops at prominent landmarks including the Assam Legislative Assembly, Bir Lachit Borphukan Statue, IIT Guwahati and City Centre Mall, where football fans will have the opportunity to view the historic silverware.
Major General Amit Dhir highlighted the tournament’s enduring legacy, saying the Durand Cup has remained a symbol of excellence in Indian football for more than a century while providing young players with a national platform to showcase their talent.
Assam has been one of the tournament’s key host states since 2023 and will once again stage six Group F matches this year. Defending champions NorthEast United FC will be joined by Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, Bodoland FC and FC-1 in the group, with three clubs from Assam representing the state on home soil.
The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup will be held from July 25 to August 23 across five host cities – Kolkata, Shillong, Imphal, Guwahati and Ranchi. A total of 24 teams, including Sri Lankan Armed Forces, will compete in 43 matches, with the tournament opening on July 25 with the Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC before concluding with the final in Kolkata on August 23.
