KNB News Desk
Srinagar 12 August (KNB): The 130th edition of Durand Cup 2021, which is world’s 3rd oldest and Asia’s oldest football tournament, is ready to make a comeback after delay due to covid19, said an official communique on Thursday.
It said that the Durand Cup’s 130th edition is set to become a landmark event with the dynamic support of All India Football Federation (AIFF), IFA (West Bengal) and the Government of West Bengal.
However, the prestigious tournament was first held in 1888, at Dagshai (Himachal Pradesh) and is named after Mortimer Durand, who was then the Foreign Secretary in charge of India. “The tournament was a conscious way to initially maintain health and fitness amongst the British troops but was later opened to civilians and currently is one of the leading sports events in the world. Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are the most successful teams in the history of the Durand Cup winning it sixteen times each,” it reads.
It also said that the winning team is presented with three trophies i.e. the President’s Cup (first presented by Dr Rajendra Prasad), the Durand Cup (the original challenge prize – a rolling trophy) and the Shimla Trophy (first presented by citizens of Shimla in 1903 and since 1965, a rolling trophy).
As per the communique, the Tournament was shifted from Delhi to Kolkata in 2019, which was won by Gokulam Kerala by beating Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the finals. The West Bengal capital will again host the four week long tournament, scheduled between 05 September to 03 October 2021, with matches being played at various venues in and around Kolkata. Sixteen participating teams from across the country, including four teams from the Services, are set to bring out the competitive and true sportsman spirit to win the coveted trophies. (KNB).