Archive · 27 Jul 2026
Ranchi Debuts as Durand Cup Host with Grand Ceremony
Ranchi hosted the opening ceremony of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup, a very old and important football tournament in Asia.
The ceremony was a big event with military traditions and cultural performances from Jharkhand.
Important people like the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Jharkhand Minister attended.
There were flypasts, Army band performances, and traditional dances.
The Durand Cup, President's Cup, and Simla Trophy were shown in a special drill.
The ceremony ended with teams marching in and the tournament officially starting.
This is the first time Ranchi has hosted the Durand Cup, and it shows Jharkhand is becoming an important place for football in India.
Ranchi hosted the opening ceremony of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup, marking its debut as a host city.
The ceremony blended military traditions with Jharkhand's cultural heritage, featuring a flypast, Army band, and traditional performances.
Key attendees included Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar, and military officials.
Highlights included a Trophy Drill showcasing the Durand Cup, President's Cup, and Simla Trophy, and an audio-visual presentation on the tournament's history.
The tournament features 24 teams competing in 43 matches across Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Shillong, and Imphal.
- Who
- Indian Armed Forces, Jharkhand Government, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar, Lt Gen Gambhir Singh, Maj Gen Sajjan Singh Maan
- What
- Opening ceremony of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup
- When
- Not specified
- Where
- Birsa Munda Football Stadium, Ranchi
- Why
- To mark Ranchi's debut as a host city for the Durand Cup and showcase Jharkhand's cultural heritage and military traditions
Cultural Showcase
Military Pageantry
Ceremony Style
Cultural Showcase
The ceremony highlighted Jharkhand's rich cultural heritage with traditional performances like Bhangra and Khukri martial arts.
Military Pageantry
The event featured military traditions, including a flypast, Army band performance, and a ceremonial Trophy Drill.
- Location
- Birsa Munda Football Stadium, Ranchi
- Event
- 135th IndianOil Durand Cup
- Organizers
- Indian Armed Forces and Jharkhand Government
- Attendees
- Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Sudivya Kumar, Lt Gen Gambhir Singh, Maj Gen Sajjan Singh Maan
- Highlights
- Flypast, Army band, cultural performances, Trophy Drill, audio-visual presentation
- Teams
- 24 teams competing in 43 matches
- Broadcast
- Sony Ten 5 and Sony LIV