Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma unveiled the trophy of the 134th Indian Oil Durand Cup 2025 on Wednesday at a ceremonial event held at the State Convention Centre, officially flagging off the tournament’s trophy roadshow in the state.
The unveiling marks the beginning of the prestigious football tournament’s journey through Meghalaya, reinforcing the state’s emergence as a centre for sports and youth development.
The trophy will travel across Shillong, Nongstoin, and Tura, giving residents an up-close experience with the historic silverware ahead of the tournament’s kickoff.
This year, Meghalaya will field three teams—Shillong Lajong FC, Ryntih Sports Club, and the Meghalaya Police Football Team—highlighting a new chapter for local football and reflecting the state government’s push to promote homegrown talent on larger platforms.
The event was attended by Sports Minister Shakliar Warjri, top military officials including Lt Gen Sanjay Malik, and senior state functionaries.
In his address, the chief minister thanked the Indian Armed Forces for once again choosing Shillong as one of the host venues.
“Eight matches, including a quarterfinal and a semifinal, will be played at the JN Sports Complex. After a successful edition last year, this year promises to be even more exciting with more home teams in the mix,” Sangma said.
He also highlighted the state’s sustained investment in sports infrastructure—amounting to nearly Rs. 2,000 crore in the last seven years—including the upcoming Mawkhanu Sports Complex, which is set to be the largest dedicated football stadium in the country.
Sports Minister reiterated the government’s vision of producing Olympians from Meghalaya and said the state is aiming to host the 2027 National Games with an ambitious target of winning 50 medals.
He also announced that Rs. 39.17 crore in grants had been disbursed to 26 sports associations to aid athlete training and development.
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Lt Gen Malik applauded Meghalaya’s hospitality and praised its decision to host a foreign team free of cost, calling it a step towards global sporting integration.
The event concluded with the stirring anthem of the Meghalaya Durand Cup contingent, “Here We Go.”
The 134th edition of the Durand Cup will be held from July 23 to August 23, 2025, across five states—West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Manipur, and Meghalaya.
Shillong will host eight fixtures, including key knockout matches, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
