134th edition of Durand Cup Jamshedpur leg kicks off with grand opening ceremony

The Jamshedpur leg of the 134th Durand Cup began on a spectacular note, despite heavy rain, with an electrifying opening match at The Furnace—the home ground of Jamshedpur FC. The stadium was packed with passionate football fans who braved the weather to cheer for their teams and witness the grand cultural and sporting spectacle.

The opening ceremony was graced by Sudivya Kumar, Hon’ble Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Higher and Technical Education, Tourism, Art & Culture, and Sports & Youth Affairs, and Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command and Patron of the Durand Cup Organising Committee (DCOC). They were joined by Major General Dhurba Prakash Shah, Director General of Military Training of the Nepali Army.

The event also saw the presence of several dignitaries including Shri Saryu Roy (MLA, Jamshedpur West), Smt. Purnima Das Sahu (MLA, Jamshedpur East), Shri D. B. Sundara Ramam (Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel), Shri Sanjeev Kumar Choudhary (Executive Director & State Head, Bihar & Jharkhand, IOCL), Shri Mangal Kalindi (MLA, Jugsalai) and Shri Manoj Kumar Yadav, a distinguished sports personality and administrator from Jharkhand.

Top officers of the Indian Army in attendance included Lieutenant General Yash Ahlawat, AVSM, YSM, SM (General Officer Commanding, Brahmastra Corps), Major General Rajesh Arun Moghe, VSM (GOC, Bengal Sub Area & Vice Chairman, DCOC), and Major General Paramvir Singh Dagar, VSM (General Officer Commanding, Cockerel Division).

The grand ceremony featured a vibrant cultural line-up:

• A Paika dance performed by Gulab Singh Munda and his team from Icchagarh
• A Khukhri dance by the 6th Battalion of the 8th Gorkha Regiment
• A lively Jhumair dance, a local folk performance
• And a thrilling Kalaripayattu display by the 21st Battalion of the Madras Regiment

In a gesture of friendship and mutual respect, Lieutenant General R.C. Tiwari and Major General Dhurba Prakash Shah exchanged greetings and souvenirs before the match, reinforcing the longstanding camaraderie between the Indian and Nepali Armies. They also met the players and staff of Tribhuvan Army FC (Nepali Army), posed for photographs, and wished them well for their campaign.

Adding to the excitement, souvenir footballs were kicked into the stands to engage the young audience.

The Jamshedpur leg will host seven matches, including a quarterfinal. Apart from Tribhuvan Army FC, Indian Army FT and 1 Ladakh FC—the latter making their debut in the tournament—are also part of Group C.

With a passionate crowd and a rich blend of culture, tradition, and sportsmanship, the Durand Cup continues its legacy as one of India’s oldest and most celebrated football tournaments.