President Murmu unveils, flags off Durand Cup 2026 trophies ahead of historic football tournament
President Droupadi Murmu ceremonially unveiled and flagged off the trophies for the Durand Cup 2026, officially marking the beginning of preparations for Asia's oldest football tournament. The ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in the presence of senior military officials and football administrators.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu said this year's tournament will feature new teams competing for the Durand Cup, the President's Cup and the Shimla Trophy. She also welcomed the participation of a team from Sri Lanka, expressing confidence that the addition of new teams would further enhance the popularity and competitiveness of the historic tournament.
The President extended her best wishes to all participating teams and urged players to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship while contributing to the legacy of one of the world's oldest football competitions. She noted that football has the unique ability to unite people and promotes values such as discipline, determination and teamwork.
Highlighting India's football aspirations, Murmu said the country still has a long journey ahead to become a global football powerhouse and called for collective efforts to nurture young talent. She expressed hope that the Durand Cup would continue to serve as an important platform for identifying and developing promising footballers across the country.
She also expressed happiness that, apart from Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal and Shillong, this year's edition of the tournament will also be hosted in Ranchi, expanding the competition's reach and bringing top-level football to more regions of India.
The ceremony was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, reflecting the Armed Forces' long-standing association with the prestigious tournament.
