Shillong, July 11: The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup Trophy Tour arrived in Shillong on Saturday, with Meghalaya Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla officially flagging off the state’s leg of the nationwide tour ahead of the prestigious football tournament.
The ceremony marked Shillong as the first of the five host cities to receive the tournament’s three iconic trophies – the Durand Cup, the President’s Cup and the Simla Trophy – after they were ceremonially unveiled and flagged off by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi earlier this month.
Several senior civil, military and sports officials attended the event, including Lieutenant General Mohit Wadhwa, General Officer Commanding, 101 Area; Air Marshal Devendra P. Hirani, Senior Air Staff Officer, Eastern Air Command; Major General D.K. Singh, General Officer Commanding, Bengal Sub Area and Vice Chairman of the Durand Cup Organising Committee; Major General Jai Singh Bainsla, Additional Director General of Assam Rifles; Meghalaya Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary Isawanda Laloo; Meghalaya Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang; Meghalaya State Olympic Association Working President John F. Kharshiing; and Meghalaya Football Association President Hamletson Dohling.
The programme celebrated Meghalaya’s rich football culture with a presentation on the history of the Durand Cup, a screening of the President’s trophy unveiling ceremony, a performance by the 15-member Khmih Creative Society choir, and the ceremonial display of the tournament’s three trophies before the convoy was flagged off for its city tour.
Addressing the gathering, Shylla said football is deeply embedded in Meghalaya’s identity and continues to unite communities across the state. “Football is not merely a game in Meghalaya; it is part of our identity. It inspires our youth and brings immense pride to our state. We are grateful to the Indian Armed Forces for giving Meghalaya the opportunity to host the Durand Cup for the third consecutive year, and we hope Shillong will one day have the privilege of hosting the Durand Cup final,” he said.
Following the ceremony, the trophy convoy travelled across several prominent locations in Shillong, including Camel Back Road, Civil Hospital, Umshyrpi Bridge, Shillong Peak, Nongthymmai, Laitumkhrah, Dhanketi Point, Barik Point and Khyndailad before concluding at the Chief Minister’s Football Fan Park at SRGT Ground, Polo, building anticipation for the tournament’s return to Meghalaya.
Lieutenant General Mohit Wadhwa said Shillong occupies a special place in Indian football because of its passionate supporters. “There are cities that host football, and there are cities that live football. Shillong proudly belongs to the latter. The passion and unwavering support of football fans here make the city one of the country’s finest football destinations. Meghalaya has become an integral part of the Durand Cup journey, and we are delighted to return once again,” he said.
Shillong will once again play a key role during the tournament, hosting all Group E matches involving Shillong Lajong FC, Langsning FC, Nongkseh SS&CC and Mumbay FC. The city will stage eight matches in total, including a quarter-final and a semi-final.
The trophy tour will also travel to Jowai and Tura before heading to Imphal on July 15 as part of its journey across all host cities ahead of the tournament’s kick-off.
The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup will be held from July 25 to August 23 across Kolkata, Shillong, Imphal, Guwahati and Ranchi, with Ranchi making its debut as a host city.
Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services with support from the host state governments, the Durand Cup, established in 1888, is the world’s third-oldest surviving football tournament and remains one of India’s most prestigious competitions.
This year’s edition will feature 24 teams, including a foreign team representing the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, competing in 43 matches. The tournament will begin with the Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC on July 25 before concluding with the final at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on August 23.
