IndianOil Durand Cup 2025 Kicks Off with a Grand Opening at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan
IndianOil Durand Cup 2025 Kicks Off with a Grand Opening at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan
Kolkata; July 24, 2025
The 134th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup football tournament commenced in Kolkata yesterday at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. This year’s tournament is named the “IndianOil Durand Cup” as IndianOil is the title sponsor. Organized by the Indian Armed Forces and supported by the Governments of West Bengal, Orissa, Meghalaya, Manipur & Assam, this is the third oldest football tournament in the world, being held across five states – Kokrajhar in Assam, Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, Shillong in Meghalaya, Imphal in Manipur and Kolkata in West Bengal. All six venues across 5 states have been meticulously prepared to provide a world-class experience to football enthusiasts.
The inaugural ceremony of the IndianOil Durand Cup at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, was graced by Smt. Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal , Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, GOC-in-C, Eastern Command; Lt Gen Mohit Malhotra, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command; Lt Gen Yashpal Singh Ahlawat, GOC, 17 Corps; Maj Gen Rajesh Arun Moghe, GOC, Bengal Sub Area; Maj Gen Vijaykumar R Jagtap, GOC, 59 Infantry Division; and Maj Gen Dhruba Prakash Shah, DGMT, Nepal Army, Shri Jisto Nongbri, ED(RS), ERO, IndianOil, and other dignitaries.
In the opening match of the IndianOil Durand Cup, held between Emami East Bengal FC and South United FC on 23rd July, Emami East Bengal FC emerged victorious with 5-0. The tournament was inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee, who kicked the football on the ground to mark the beginning of the event.
IndianOil’s commitment to sports is guided by a comprehensive sports policy that aims to reshape the sporting culture in India and elevate the nation’s position in sports across multiple disciplines. The company has taken several initiatives for sports promotion, including recruitment, scholarships, awards, incentives, organizing sporting events, sponsorship of sports tournaments, development/maintenance of sports infrastructure, and support to prestigious sports academies. The IndianOil Durand Cup is a significant part of these efforts to promote sports on a grand scale.
The Durand Cup stands as the flag bearer of India’s long and rich footballing legacy. Established in 1888 by Sir Mortimer Durand, Foreign Secretary of British India, this tournament continues to captivate millions of football lovers in India. IndianOil’s title sponsorship remains consistent with last year’s tournament. This year, a total of 43 matches will be played in IndianOil Durand Cup across 5 cities — Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Shillong, Imphal and Kokrajhar.
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