Kolkata, July 22: Kolkata welcomed the three iconic trophies of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup on Wednesday as the nationwide Trophy Tour concluded in the City of Joy, setting the stage for the kick-off of Asia’s oldest football tournament on July 25.
The trophies arrived from Ranchi and were showcased during a ceremonial function and press conference at AOI Vijay Durg. The event marked the end of the Trophy Tour, which travelled across all five host states to build excitement ahead of the month-long competition.
West Bengal Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Services & Sports and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Indranil Khan, attended the ceremony as the chief guest. Also present were Lieutenant General Gambhir Singh, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Eastern Command and Chairman of the Durand Cup Organising Committee; Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Pandey; Major General Dinesh Kumar Singh, General Officer Commanding, Bengal Sub Area and Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee; along with senior civil and military officials, representatives of participating clubs, sponsors and members of the football fraternity.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Khan said Kolkata was proud to host 16 matches, including the tournament opener and the final, and called on football fans across West Bengal to fill the stadiums throughout the competition. “During the recent FIFA Club World Cup, we all supported clubs from around the world. Now it is time to unite behind Indian football and our own footballers,” he said.
The ceremony featured audio-visual presentations on the history of the Durand Cup, the ceremonial unveiling of the trophies at Rashtrapati Bhavan, and a special video message from actor John Abraham celebrating the tournament’s rich legacy.
Lieutenant General Gambhir Singh said the Durand Cup remained one of the Indian Army’s most significant sporting commitments and highlighted the strong military-civil partnership that has helped the competition grow. “Since 2019, Kolkata has proudly served as the tournament’s principal host city, where football is not merely a sport but a way of life. This partnership continues to strengthen the legacy of India’s oldest football tournament,” he said.
Major General Dinesh Kumar Singh noted that the extension of the Durand Cup under the Eastern Command until 2032 reflected the tournament’s continued growth and popularity. “With the support of the Government of West Bengal and our other host states, we remain committed to taking the tournament to new venues, creating opportunities for more young footballers and strengthening Indian football,” he said.
The completion of the Trophy Tour marks the final countdown to the tournament, with the three historic trophies having travelled across all five host states over the past two weeks.
Kolkata, which has served as the tournament’s principal host city since its revival in 2019, will stage the opening match, Groups A and B fixtures, a quarter-final, a semi-final and the final.
The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup will kick off on July 25 with the Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
Group A comprises Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, South United FC and CISF Protectors, while Group B features Mohammedan SC, the Indian Army Football Team, Durand Cup debutants Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting.
The tournament, organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services with support from the respective host state governments, will be held from July 25 to August 23 across Kolkata, Shillong, Guwahati, Ranchi and Imphal. The 135th edition will feature 24 teams, including the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, competing in 43 matches across six venues.
