Kolkata: The 134th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup kicked off in grand style amidst much fervour and enthusiasm in the ‘City of Joy’ with a colourful opening ceremony in which Asia’s oldest football tournament was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal Smt. Mamata Banerjee by a symbolic kick of the ball at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
Also present during the occasion was Shri Aroop Biswas, Minister-in-Charge, Department of Power, Housing, Youth Services & Sports, Government of West Bengal, Shri Sujit Bose, Minister-in-Charge Department of Fire and Emergency, Government of West Bengal, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Minister of State, Youth Services & Sports, Government of West Bengal, Lt Gen. Ram Chander Tiwari PVSM UYSM AVSM SM, General Officer Commanding in Charge, Eastern Command and Patron of Durand Cup Organising Committee (DCOC), Lt Gen Mohit Malhotra AVSM SM, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command & Chairman, DCOC, Maj Gen Dhruba Prakash Shah, DGMT Nepali Army, Maj Gen Rajesh Arun Moghe VSM, General Officer Commanding Bengal Sub Area and Vice Chairman, DCOC and Maj Gen Vijaykumar R Jagtap SM, General Officer Commanding, 59 Infantry Division.
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The cultural programs started with the state troupe performing a Baul display of Bengal, known for their soulful songs that blend of devotion, philosophy, and folk. Then Jhang Pathaka, a dance form performed by the 2nd and the 6th Battalions of Maratha Light Infantry which was followed by a display of martial arts where Krav Maga was presented by the 2nd Battalion of Rajputana Rifles (Tololing), Balance and Endurance by the Assam Regimental Centre and an Army Martial Arts Routine by the 6th Battalion Maratha Light Infantry. The audience were treated to some cultural performances by the Armed Forces which included the 2nd Battalion of Sikh Regiment performing a Bhangra, Khukri dance by the 2nd Battalion of the 5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) and Gatka by the 2nd Battalion of Sikh Regiment & 19th Battalion of Sikh Light Infantry. The final cultural program of the evening was a fusion of all the performers of the evening and Cadets from the NCC painting a beautiful canvas of India’s rich cultural traditions and colourful diversity.
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The highlight of the evening was the Fly-past by one Advance Light Helicopter from 209 Army Aviation Squadron carrying the National Flag and two Cheetah Helicopters carrying the Eastern Command and Durand Cup flags from 659 Army Aviation Squadron and 40 Recce and Observation which concluded the festivities of the opening ceremony.
The Chief Minister was then accompanied by other dignitaries to meet both teams, East Bengal FC and South United FC and the symbolic inaugural kick of the match ball, marking the start of the month long 134th edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament in front of an enthusiastic supporters who had filled the stadium in large numbers. A few souvenir footballs were kicked into the spectator gallery to encourage the young onlookers to get hooked to the beautiful game.
The audience were also treated to an army pipe band performance during half time.
Emami East Bengal eased past debutants South United FC 5-0 in the opening match, with Lalchungnunga, Saul Crespo, Bipin Singh, Dimitrios Diamantakos and Mahesh Singh scoring the goals for the winners.
Kolkata will host two groups and a total of 15 matches including a quarterfinal, semifinal and the finals. Emami East Bengal FC, Indian Air Force FT and Durand Cup debutants Namdhari FC and Bengaluru based South United FC are drawn in Group A.
Last year’s runners up Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Border Security Force FT and Diamond Harbour FC will be playing in Group B. 
