President Droupadi Murmu flags off trophies of Durand Cup tournament 2026 in New Delhi

By  News On Air   Jul 07, 2026

President Droupadi Murmu unveiled and flagged off the trophies for the Durand Cup 2026 in New Delhi.

Addressing the gathering, the President said that new teams will compete this year for the Durand Cup, the President’s Cup and the Shimla Trophy. Expressing happiness over the participation of a Sri Lankan team in this year’s tournament, she said the inclusion of new teams would make the historic competition even more popular.

President Murmu extended her best wishes to all the teams and players participating in the tournament. She urged them to uphold the true spirit of sportsmanship and further enhance the prestige of the historic competition through their best performances. The President also expressed happiness that, in addition to Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal and Shillong, this year’s Durand Cup will also be hosted in Ranchi.

Highlighting the unifying power of football, President Murmu said the sport has the unique ability to bring people together. She noted that the values of sportsmanship extend far beyond the playing field by promoting discipline, determination and team spirit. She said India still has a long way to go to emerge as a leading force in football and called upon everyone to contribute to this journey. The President expressed hope that the tournament would provide a platform for nurturing and developing football talent in the country.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan were also present on the occasion.