Kolkata,: The 134th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament, came to a glorious close with a colourful closing ceremony and the prize distribution ceremony after the finals in which NorthEast United defended their title in style beating debutants Diamond Harbour FC 6-1 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The final brought the curtain down on a month-long celebration of football that travelled across five football-loving cities of the country, Kolkata, Kokrajhar, Imphal, Jamshedpur, and Shillong before culminating in a pulsating finale in the City of Joy. With 24 teams competing in 43 fiercely contested matches, this year’s tournament once again reminded fans of the Durand Cup’s rich heritage and its continuing role of the season opener of Indian football.
The grand finale was followed by a glittering prize distribution ceremony which was graced by Shri Sanjay Seth, Hon’ble Minister of State of Defence who was the Chief Guest along with Shri. Aroop Biswas, Hon’ble Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of West Bengal, Air Chief Marshal Amarpreet Singh PVSM AVSM, Chief of Air Staff, Lt. Gen Ram Chander Tiwari PVSM UYSM AVSM SM, GoC-in-C, Eastern Command & Patron of Durand Cup Organising Committee, Lt. Gen Mohit Malhotra AVSM SM, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command and Chairman, Durand Cup Organising Committee and Maj Gen. Rajesh Arun Moghe VSM, General Officer Commanding, Bengal Sub Area and Vice-Chairman, Durand Cup Organising Committee, Mr. Rajesh Kumar Sinha IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Youth Services and Sports, Mr. Arvinder Singh Sahney, Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Mr. Vinay M. Tonse, Managing Director, State Bank of India and Mr. Achyut Ghatak, Director (Technology), Coal India Limited.
A jubilant owner of the champions, John Abraham was also there cheering for his team and witnessing the historic occasion of another trophy win.
The Durand Cup trophy for the winners were presented by Shri. Sanjay Seth while the Shimla Trophy was presented by Shri. Aroop Biswas and the President’s Cup Scroll was presented by Air Chief Marshal Amarpreet Singh. The cheque of 1.21 crores was presented to NorthEast United by Lt. Gen Ram Chander Tiwari and the gold medals were presented by Mr. Arvinder Singh Sahney with Lt. Gen Ram Chander Tiwari.
The runners up cheque of 60 lakhs was presented to Diamond Harbour FC by Mr. Vinay M. Tonse who also presented the silver medals along with and Maj Gen. Rajesh Arun Moghe.
The Golden Boot Award for the top scorer of the tournament was presented to Alaaeddine Ajaraie of NorthEast United along with a cheque of 3 lakhs and the key to the brand new Mahindra XUV 3XO. The striker also received the Golden Ball Award which was presented to him by Vinay M. Tonse along with a cheque of 3 lakhs and the brand new Mahindra XUV 3XO.
The Golden Glove Award for the best Goalkeeper was presented to Gurmeet Singh of NorthEast United by Mr. Achyut Ghatak along with the cheque of 3 lakhs and a brand new Mahindra XUV 3XO.
The cheque for the other semi-finalists, East Bengal FC and Shillong Lajong FC was presented by Maj Gen. Rajesh Arun Moghe while the cheque for the other quarterfinalists, Indian Navy FT, Bodoland FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Jamshedpur FC was presented by Mr. Rajesh Kumar Sinha IAS. The officials were also presented with mementos.
As the champions carried the iconic trophy aloft and fireworks lit up the Kolkata night sky, the Durand Cup reaffirmed why it continues to be more than just a football tournament. It is a living tradition, a proud institution of the armed forces and the nation, and a celebration of the game’s past, present, and future. With the 134th edition now concluded, the legacy continues to inspire, ensuring that the Durand Cup remains the jewel of Indian football for generations to come.
