Grand Durand Cup Opening Ceremony in Kokrajhar Tomorrow

GoC-in-C Eastern Command Lieutenant General RC Tiwari, BTR Chief Pramod Boro, Former Bhutan PM Dasho Dr. Lotay Tshering, and Mizoram Sports Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar to inaugurate

The opening ceremony will start with a colourful and vibrant cultural programme at 2PM. It will also feature a series of thrilling military displays by the Indian Armed Forces

The grand opening ceremony of the Kokrajhar leg of the 133rd Durand Cup tournament will be held tomorrow at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar. The inauguration will be done by GoC-in-C Eastern Command Lt Gen RC Tiwari, BTR Chief Pramod Boro, Former Bhutan PM Dasho Dr. Lotay Tshering, and Mizoram Sports Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar who is also the Chairman, League Committee, AIFF.

This will mark the beginning of the seven matches – six league matches and a quarter final, to be played in Kokrajhar from tomorrow till August 21.
The inaugural match tomorrow will see a face-off between local favourites Bodoland FC and North East United FC, promising an exciting start to the tournament in Kokrajhar. A total of 24 teams will be participating in the tournament, vying for the three coveted Durand Cup Trophies.

The opening ceremony, scheduled to start from 2pm onwards will feature a series of thrilling military displays by the Indian Armed Forces and a vibrant cultural fiesta by the locals.

A total of 43 matches will be played in four locations – Kokrajhar, Kolkata, Shillong and Jamshedpur. There will be 36 group-stage matches, four quarterfinals, two semifinals and the final match in Kolkata.

How Much Will The Winners Get:
The prize pool of Durand Cup 2024 is Rs one crore. The specific prize money for every award is as follows:
• Champion – Rs. 60 lakh
• Runner-up – Rs. 30 lakh
• Golden Ball – Rs. 4 lakh
• Golden Boot – Rs 3 lakh
• Golden Glove – Rs 3 lakh

Where Can You Watch the Matches:
The Durand Cup 2024 can be watched live on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD. It will be live-streamed on Sony LIV.

The Kokrajhar Leg of Durand Cup:

The Trophy Display Ceremony at Bodofa Auditorium on July 14, 2024, and the subsequent Trophy Tour across five districts of the Bodoland Territorial Region have sparked significant excitement among the locals.

The Indian Army, in collaboration with the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), has meticulously prepared for the event. Extensive renovations at the stadium include upgraded floodlights for night matches and a state-of-the-art drainage system to ensure uninterrupted play, even in rainy conditions.

Kokrajhar is hosting the prestigious tournament for the second time and has made significant improvements to avoid the issues faced during the previous edition.

Speaking to Northeast Live on July 23, Assam Football Association General Secretary Sangrang Brahma said, “The ground has undergone immense renovation in the past year, and today, we can proudly say that this is one of the best football grounds in the northeast. We are confident we can host the tournament without any hiccups.”

Lt. Col. Mahendra Rawat, PRO Defence Guwahati, emphasized the significance of the event, highlighting the collaboration and efforts of the Indian Army and BTC to ensure its success.

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