Durand Cup trophies unveiled in Jamshedpur, JFC to face Bangladesh Armed Forces FT in opening match on July 28

Jharkhand govt to provide Rs 25k to every village for development of football: Sports Minister

Tickets available for Rs 50 and Rs 100: Army

Jamshedpur, July 19: The excitement is palpable as the city gears up to host the Group D matches of the prestigious Durand Cup Football Tournament. The matches will be played from 28 July to 24 August at JRD Sports Complex, bringing together top teams and international talents in a thrilling display of football prowess.

The three glittering Durand Cup trophies were showcased for the first time in Jamshedpur on Friday.

Trophies for the Durand Cup were unveiled by Jharkhand’s Sports Minister Hafizul Hassan, Health Minister Banna Gupta, Lt Gen RC Srikanth, VSM, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command and Chairman, Durand Cup Organising Committee and Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice-President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel who was the Guest of Honour at the XLRI Auditorium in Bistupur.

The event marks a significant moment for Jamshedpur, which has earned the moniker “capital of sports” in Jharkhand due to its passionate football fan base. The Durand Cup will be held at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.

Government’s Push for Football

In his address, Sports Minister Hafizul Hassan highlighted the government’s commitment to promoting football. “Jamshedpur is renowned for its love of football, and the Durand Cup is a testament to our dedication to the sport. To further encourage football at the grassroots level, the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, will provide an incentive of ₹25,000 in every village for development of football,” Hassan announced.

State Health Minister and Jamshedpur West MLA Banna Gupta expressed gratitude to the Indian Armed Forces for organizing the tournament in Jamshedpur. He also thanked Tata Steel and the district administration for their support in ensuring the event’s success. Gupta emphasized the positive impact of sports, stating, “This event, organized with the discipline of the Army, promises to showcase exceptional football. Sports serve as a powerful medium to combat addiction.”

Army’s Role in Promoting Football

Lt Gen RC Srikanth from the Indian Army underscored the importance of the tournament, which is being held across four states in India, with Jamshedpur as one of the hosts. He acknowledged Tata Steel’s efforts in promoting football in the region. “The JRD Sports Complex will host this prestigious tournament, allowing sports enthusiasts from Jamshedpur and surrounding areas to witness top-tier football. Tickets are available for ₹50 and ₹100, making it accessible for all,” Srikanth stated.

Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said, “We are happy and proud to host such a prestigious tournament in Jamshedpur. Sports is a way of life at Tata Steel and we have always supported sports and sportspersons.  We wish the teams participating in the Durand Cup all the best.”

The sports complex is also home of Jamshedpur FC and is also known as ‘The Furnace’ by their fans. It will host Group D, which consists of the Red Miners themselves, fellow ISL side Chennaiyin FC, the Indian Army Football Team and the Bangladesh Armed Forces Football Team, one of the foreign teams in the tournament. The opening match will be played on 28^th July with Jamshedpur FC facing Bangladesh Armed Forces FT. The match is scheduled for 4 PM.

All matches of the IndianOil Durand Cup will be broadcast LIVE on the Sony Sports Network and can also be livestreamed on the SonyLiv OTT platform.

A total of 24 teams, including two Services teams from Nepal and Bangladesh, will be seen in action across 43 matches, which will be played in the four host cities of Kokrajhar, Shillong, Jamshedpur (last two named making their debut as host cities) and Kolkata which will also host the grand final on August 31^st at the hallowed Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK).