Shillong, July 31: The Shillong leg of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup got underway in grand style on Friday evening as the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium played host to a colourful opening ceremony celebrating Meghalaya’s rich cultural heritage, military traditions and the legacy of Asia’s oldest football tournament.
The ceremony, held before the opening Group E match between Shillong Lajong FC and Nongkseh Sports Social & Cultural Club (SS&CC), was organised by the Indian Armed Forces with the support of the Government of Meghalaya.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar attended the event as the chief guest. Also present were Public Health Engineering, Housing and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Marcuise N. Marak, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Secretary of the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs Isawanda Laloo, Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills Abhilash Baranwal, and several senior civil and military officials.
Among the senior military officers in attendance were Lieutenant General V.M. Bhuvana Krishnan, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command and Patron of the Durand Cup Organising Committee; Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command; Lieutenant General Mohit Wadhwa, General Officer Commanding, 101 Area; Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, Director General of Assam Rifles; and Major General Dinesh Kumar Singh, General Officer Commanding, Bengal Sub Area and Vice-Chairman of the Durand Cup Organising Committee.
Bollywood actor and NorthEast United FC owner John Abraham was also present for the opening ceremony.
The evening began with a video presentation highlighting the history of the Durand Cup and this year’s trophy tour, followed by performances from the Army Brass, Pipe and Jazz Bands. Traditional drummers and bagpipers welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries before Dhar was presented with a commemorative memento featuring a painting created by students of ASHA schools.
Lieutenant General V.M. Bhuvana Krishnan was also honoured with a replica of Meghalaya’s iconic living root bridges as a symbol of the bond between the state and the Indian Armed Forces.
The programme featured a mix of military displays and cultural performances. Spectators were treated to a traditional Gatka martial arts demonstration, Khukri dance, aerial displays by Advanced Light Helicopters, a combat free-fall skydiving demonstration and a self-defence performance by the North-East Warriors.
One of the highlights of the evening was the Akash Ganga para-drop by the Indian Air Force, which drew loud applause from the packed stadium.
Music remained a central part of the celebrations as local artistes Gracyl Ropmay, Ahaia Sangma, Cynda Guri Sangma, Donion Azar Laloo, Alessandra Chettri Thomas and the Khmih Creative Society choir performed a musical tribute showcasing Shillong’s reputation as India’s music capital.
The three trophies awarded to the tournament champions – the Durand Cup, the President’s Cup and the Simla Trophy – were then ceremonially brought onto the field alongside the official match ball. The Eastern Command Flag, Durand Cup Flag and the All India Football Federation Fair Play Flag followed before the participating teams entered the stadium.
The dignitaries later greeted the players of Shillong Lajong FC and Nongkseh SS&CC on the field before posing for a group photograph with both teams and the three trophies, officially marking the start of the Shillong chapter of the tournament.
Shillong is hosting the Durand Cup for the third consecutive year, further strengthening Meghalaya’s growing reputation as one of Indian football’s key venues. The tournament continues to blend competitive football with military traditions and the cultural identity of its host cities.
Established in 1888, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest football tournament and the world’s third-oldest surviving football competition. This year’s edition is being held across Kolkata, Shillong, Imphal, Guwahati and Ranchi, with 24 teams, including one side from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, competing in 43 matches.
