The Durand Cup is one of the oldest Football Tournament in India. The Durand Football Tournament is known as the Durand Cup which is organized once a year. The Durand Cup dates back to 1888 in Shimla, the tournament was first started during the British Raj.
The Tournament continues to be organized even, though India became Independent in 1947. In recent years, there are some changes have been made that the Durand Cup which is jointly organized by India’s armed Forces and the government of West Bengal.
We will go into detail, about the evolution of the Durand Cup and why this Cup was organized. All the answers you will know if you continue to read the entire article.
History of the Durand Cup
The name of the Durand Cup was credited to Sir Henry Mortimer Durand. In the year 1888, he had a vision of the importance of sports in promoting health and decided to establish a football tournament to encourage sporting competition in India.
The Durand Cup was marked the Birthday of Sir Henry Mortimer Durand. During that time, the Tournament was started by organizing football in various departments and Regiment of India army and included in the princely states.
Over time, the tournament was changed and the National Clubs and some were invited from various sections of the Indian Armed Forces and even abroad.
British Raj Era
During the British Raj era, the tournament was limited only to British Armed Forces and Indian Army. They are very excited to play football and even the hockey field has turned into a football field. The popularity of Football gradually grew at that time.
The early match was played in Dagshai, near Shimla, India, which witnessed the match between military and civilian Team. In 1940, the Tournament was shifted to Delhi and the Tournament changed a lot as the civilian Team could participate in the Tournament. The first ever Civilian Club was the Mohammedan who became the first Club to lead the title.
Post-Independence
After India gained independence in 1947, the Durand Cup made a significant transition as the Tournament decided to move to Pakistan but there was resistance to the movement resulting in the Tournament as an integral part of Indian football.
The Durand Football Tournament Society has taken of hosting the tournament with the Indian Armed Forces Clubs. From those years, we could witness only the exchange of trophies between the prominent like East Bengal Club, Mohun Bagan AC, and more.
Evolution of the Tournament Format
The Durand Cup has changed the format from year to year. As of now the match format started from the Group stage and was followed up by knockout Matches. The Tournament has the number of Team of 24 teams in the group-stage round and the maximum of players is 30 in each team.
The top Team from the group stage will progress to the knockout stage till the final. But in the case of Durand Cup 2023, there is a first leg and a second leg in the semi-final.
Trophies and Recognition
1. Durand Cup (The Masterpiece): The original tournament trophy, which has been a rolling trophy since 1965.
2. Shimla Trophy (The Artistry): Donated by Shimla’s
residents in 1904, this trophy showcases their passion for the tournament. It has been awarded on a rolling basis since 1965.
3. President’s Cup (The Pride): Introduced post-independence, this rolling trophy replaced the Viceroy’s Trophy. It was presented by the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
Conclusion
The journey of the Durand Cup has started a long time back in Shima. The Tournament was involved in the military tournament only and slowly and gradually the tournament broadened by allowing civilian Clubs to participate in the tournament.
As of now the tournament has become popular in India as the National Clubs who are prominent playing in Indian Super League and I league are included. The Tournament is not limited only to India as the tournament is open for abroad Teams to participate. Durand Cup somehow it is an international Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When was the first Durand Cup held?
Answer: The first Durand Cup was held in Shimla, India in 1888.
3. How has the tournament changed in recent years?
Answer: The Durand Cup tournament has expanded to include both military and civilian teams. Recently, the format has changed as the tournament included round-robin and knockout stages.
4. Who can participate in the Durand Cup?
Answer: The Tournament is open to National clubs and there are guest invitee teams from the Indian Armed Forces and abroad.
5. What are the three trophies awarded to the winners?
Answer: The winners are presented with the Durand Cup, the Shimla Trophy, and the President’s Cup.