Shillong, July 26 : Shillong’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was the scene of history once again today as Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, officially inaugurated the 134th Indian Oil Durand Cup, 2025. The dazzling opening ceremony on Saturday at the newly renovated stadium marked the kickoff of Asia’s oldest football tournament. The first match of Group E saw homegrown Shillong Lajong FC face off against the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM FA).
This year marks the second consecutive time the Durand Cup is being hosted in Meghalaya’s capital city.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by several esteemed dignitaries, including Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma; Shakliar Warjri, Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs; Kyrmen Shylla, Minister for Revenue & Disaster Management; D P Wahlang, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya; and Dr Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department.
Prior to the match, the Chief Minister, along with the Sports Minister and other dignitaries, met with the players and symbolically launched the Group E matches. All Group E matches, including the quarter-finals and semi-finals, are scheduled to be held in Shillong.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma expressed his pride, stating, “We are very happy and extremely proud that Shillong is one of the host cities for the Durand Cup for the second consecutive year. This is a great moment for us. We thank the Indian Armed Forces for selecting Shillong as one of the host cities and for giving us an opportunity to host the Durand Cup this year once again in Shillong.” He highlighted Shillong’s passion for football and emphasized the State Government’s commitment to promoting the sport at both grassroots and professional levels.
The ceremony featured captivating performances by the Indian Armed Forces, including a Kalarippayattu display, a para motors show, and motorcycle stunt performances. Cultural highlights included a rendition by the Army Pipe and Jazz Band and a dance performance of “Badloo Ram Ka Badan” by the Assam Regimental Centre team. Artists from the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (MGMP), such as Na U Bnai band, Ahaia Band, and singers Deiwitewan Subah and Eniba War, enthralled the audience with their performance of the famous song ‘Khun U Woh’.
In the inaugural Group E match, Shillong Lajong FC delivered a dominant performance, scoring 6 goals and defeating the Malaysian Armed Forces Team (ATM FA), who remained goalless.
Meghalaya is set for a sporting revolution, with the upcoming 39th National Games in 2027 on the horizon. As part of the “Team Meghalaya” initiative, a grant of Rs 39.17 crore has been sanctioned to 26 state sports associations and the Meghalaya State Olympic Association to support structured training and preparation. the Government of Meghalaya has also introduced various programs and incentives to strengthen its sporting ecosystem. Under the STAR program, 24,500 athletes have been evaluated, and over 10,000 footballers are being trained through the Chief Minister’s Mission Football 2.0. Additionally, sports infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,500 crore are underway to develop and upgrade 518 sports facilities by 2028.
Hosting the Durand Cup for the second consecutive year not only demonstrates Meghalaya’s consistency in hosting major football tournaments but also serves as a testament to its growing sporting prowess, ultimately aiming to establish Meghalaya as India’s Football Capital.
High-ranking Army officials were also in attendance, including Lt Gen R.C Tiwari, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Command; Air Marshal Surat Singh, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Air Command; Lt Gen Sanjay Mallik, General Officer Commanding 101 Area; Lt Gen Mohit Malhotra, Chief of Staff Head Quarters Eastern Command; Major General Rajesh Arun Moghe, General Officer Commanding Bengal Sub Area; and Major General Naveen Thapliyal, Chief of Staff Head Quarters 101 Area, among other senior officers from the Armed Forces and officials from the Government of Meghalaya.
