135th IndianOil Durand Cup Opens in Guwahati with Grand Celebration of Assam’s Cultural Heritage and Military Traditions

Guwahati, August 1, 2026: The Guwahati Chapter of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup, organised by the Indian Armed Forces with the support of the Government of Assam, opened in grand fashion at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Saturday, with a spectacular opening ceremony celebrating Assam’s rich cultural heritage, the traditions of the Indian Armed Forces and the enduring legacy of Asia’s oldest football tournament before the opening Group F fixture between defending champions NorthEast United FC and Bodoland FC.

The opening ceremony was graced by Shri Biswajit Daimary, Hon’ble Minister of Sports, Government of Assam and Chief Guest; Shri Jayanta Mallabaruah, Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Environment & Forest, Government of Assam; Shri KJ Hilaly, Special Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam; Lieutenant General V. M. B. Krishnan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command and Patron, Durand Cup Organising Committee; Lieutenant General Neeraj Shukla, AVSM, SM, General Officer Commanding, IV Corps; Major General Dinesh Kumar Singh, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Bengal Sub Area and Vice Chairman, Durand Cup Organising Committee; Major General Rohin Bawa, YSM, SM, General Officer Commanding, 21 Mountain Division; and Shri Arvinder Singh Sahney, Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, along with other senior civil and military officials, representatives of participating clubs, sponsors, partners and members of the football fraternity.

The opening ceremony was graced by Shri Biswajit Daimary, Hon’ble Minister of Sports, Government of Assam and Chief Guest; Shri Jayanta Mallabaruah, Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Environment & Forest, Government of Assam; Shri KJ Hilaly, Special Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam; Lieutenant General V. M. B. Krishnan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command and Patron, Durand Cup Organising Committee; Lieutenant General Neeraj Shukla, AVSM, SM, General Officer Commanding, IV Corps; Major General Dinesh Kumar Singh, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Bengal Sub Area and Vice Chairman, Durand Cup Organising Committee; Major General Rohin Bawa, YSM, SM, General Officer Commanding, 21 Mountain Division; and Shri Arvinder Singh Sahney, Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, along with other senior civil and military officials, representatives of participating clubs, sponsors, partners and members of the football fraternity.

The main ceremony commenced with the arrival of senior military and civil dignitaries, followed by their movement to the VIP Gallery and a formal felicitation of the Chief Guest and Guests of Honour. A combined Military Band and NCC All Girls’ Brass Band performance set the stage for a spectacular skydiving display, while the official match ball and the tournament’s three trophies were ceremonially placed on display.

The ceremony then turned to Assam’s cultural heritage with a specially curated state cultural programme featuring Bagurumba, Bardwi Sikhla, Bihu and Bhortal, followed by a paramotor display and an aeromodelling display. A presentation of ‘Badluram Ka Badan’ further reflected the military traditions associated with the tournament, followed by an ALH helicopter flypast. The audience was then treated to performances featuring Chenda drummers and Kalaripayattu, before a special Durand Cup theme video was screened.

The ceremonial proceedings continued with the entry of the Eastern Command Flag, the Durand Cup Flag and the All India Football Federation Fair Play Flag. The participating teams and match officials then lined up and entered the field before the Chief Guest and dignitaries moved to the centre of the field to interact with the players and referees and participate in the official group photograph.

The ceremony culminated with the Chief Guest formally declaring the Guwahati Chapter of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup open through the ceremonial kick-off. A Su-30MKI fighter aircraft flypast accompanied the ceremonial kick-off, after which the dignitaries moved towards the pavilion for photographs with the three iconic Durand Cup trophies. The opening Group F fixture between defending champions NorthEast United FC and Bodoland FC then commenced.

The Guwahati opening ceremony further reinforced the Durand Cup’s expanding footprint across the Northeast, bringing together football, the military traditions of the Indian Armed Forces and the rich cultural identity of Assam in one of the tournament’s key host cities.

Organised by the Indian Armed Forces with the support of the respective host state governments, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and the world’s third-oldest surviving football tournament. Established in 1888, the competition has evolved from its military origins into one of India’s premier football championships while retaining its distinctive heritage and identity.

The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup is currently being played across five host cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Shillong and Imphal—from July 25 to August 23, 2026. The tournament features 24 teams, including one foreign side representing the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, competing across 43 matches at six venues. All matches are being streamed live on Sony LIV and telecast on Sony Ten 5 HD and SD.