130th Durand Cup 2021 Football Tournament scheduled in Kolkata from September 5 to October 3, 2021.
130th Edition of the Durand Cup 2021: After a year-long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Durand Cup, the world’s third oldest and Asia’s oldest football tournament, is set to return.
What is Durand Cup?: The Durand Football Tournament, also known as the Durand Cup, is an annual domestic football tournament in India that began in Annadale, Shimla, in 1888. The Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) hosts the event. The tournament is Asia’s first and oldest football tournament.
The 130th Edition of the Durand Cup is set to be a landmark event, thanks to the enthusiastic support of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), IFA (West Bengal), and the West Bengal Government.
The prestigious tournament was first held in Dagshai (Himachal Pradesh) in 1888, and is named after Mortimer Durand, the Foreign Secretary in charge of India at the time.
The tournament began with an objective to maintain health and fitness among British troops, but it was later opened to civilians and is now one of the world’s most popular sporting events. The most successful teams in the Durand Cup’s history are Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who have each won Durand Cup sixteen times.
The President’s Cup (first presented by Dr. Rajendra Prasad), the Durand Cup (the original challenge prize – a rolling trophy), and the Shimla Trophy are awarded to the winning team (first presented by citizens of Shimla in 1903 and since 1965, a rolling trophy).
In 2019, the tournament was moved from Delhi to Kolkata, and Gokulam Kerala won it by defeating Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the finals.The four-week tournament will be held in Kolkata, West Bengal, from September 5 to October 3, 2021, with matches taking place at various venues in and around the city.
In 2019, the tournament was moved from Delhi to Kolkata; Gokulam Kerala won it by defeating Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the finals. The four-week tournament will be held in Kolkata, West Bengal, from September 5 to October 3, 2021, with matches taking place at various venues in and around the city. Sixteen teams from across the country, including four from the Services, will compete for the prestigious trophies
Durand Cup 2021 Fixtures
| Year | Venue | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 | Shimla | Royal Scots Fusiliers | Highland Light Infantry |
| 2016 | Delhi | Army Green | NEROCA |
| 2019 | Kolkata | Gokulam Kerala | Mohun Bagan |
| 2021 | Kolkata | Event: September 5 to October 3, 2021 | |
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Source: PIB
