President Murmu Unveils Durand Cup 2026 Trophies
President Says Tournament Will Help Nurture Football Talent and Promote Sportsmanship
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th July: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday unveiled and flagged off the trophies of the Durand Cup 2026 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, expressing confidence that the historic tournament will play a key role in nurturing football talent in India.
Congratulating past and present players and officials associated with the Durand Cup, the President said the tournament has served as a platform for many talented footballers over the years.
She welcomed the participation of new teams in this year’s competition, including a team from Sri Lanka, saying their inclusion would further enhance the popularity of the Durand Cup, the President’s Cup and the Shimla Trophy.
Describing football as one of the world’s most popular sports, Murmu said the game promotes excellence, unity and sportsmanship while bringing people together across nations. She noted that India still has a long journey ahead to establish itself on the global football stage but expressed hope that the Durand Cup would contribute significantly to developing future talent.
The President also said the values of teamwork, equality and perseverance learned through sports would strengthen India’s journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
