Ranchi makes grand Durand Cup debut with military pageantry, cultural showcase

Ranchi marked its arrival on India’s football map with a spectacular opening ceremony of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium, becoming a host city of Asia’s oldest football tournament for the first time.

The ceremony blended military tradition with Jharkhand’s rich cultural heritage, setting the stage for the opening fixture of the prestigious tournament organised by the Indian Armed Forces with support from the Jharkhand government.

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Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Jharkhand Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudivya Kumar, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Eastern Command and Chairman of the Durand Cup Organising Committee Lt Gen Gambhir Singh, General Officer Commanding Ranchi Area Maj Gen Sajjan Singh Maan and senior civil and military officials attended the inaugural event.

The evening opened with a flypast followed by an Army band performance before audiences were treated to a colourful display of Jharkhand’s traditional cultural performances. A Khukri martial arts demonstration and an energetic Bhangra performance added to the spectacle, reflecting India’s diverse cultural traditions.

One of the highlights was the ceremonial Trophy Drill featuring the Durand Cup, the President’s Cup and the Simla Trophy. An audio-visual presentation chronicled the tournament’s 138-year journey and its contribution to Indian football.

The ceremony concluded with the march of flag bearers carrying the Eastern Command Flag, the Durand Cup Flag and the AIFF Fair Play Flag, followed by the entry of participating teams and match officials. Dignitaries greeted the teams before the ceremonial kick-off formally inaugurated the Ranchi leg of the tournament.

The inclusion of Ranchi as a host city comes a year after Jamshedpur successfully staged matches in the previous edition, reinforcing Jharkhand’s emergence as an important destination for national football.

Established in 1888, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest football tournament and the world’s third-oldest surviving football competition. Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, this year’s edition is being played across Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Shillong and Imphal, featuring 24 teams competing in 43 matches.

The tournament will be broadcast on Sony Ten 5 and streamed live on Sony LIV.