Assam CM Inaugurates 131st Edition of Durand Cup At Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated 131st edition of Durand Cup Group D matches at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here on Thursday.

Organized jointly by ADGPI and Assam government, the prestigious football tournament is being held for the first time in Guwahati.

Taking to the micro-blogging site Twitter, Assam CM said, ''Happy to inaugurate the 131st edition of #DurandCup Group D matches at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Sarusajai.

Holding the prestigious football tournament for the first time in Guwahati is a historic occasion as it coincides with #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav.''

''I'm confident that Asia's oldest football tournament organized jointly by @adgpi & Assam Govt in Guwahati will herald a new dawn in the world of sports in the region. It will encourage youth to take up soccer in right earnest,'' he said in another tweet.

North East United FC (NEUFC) will start their campaign in the 131st edition of the Durand Cup Football with the match against Odisha FC (OFC) at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium today.

The match will kick off at 5-30pm and will be telecast live in Sports18.

The group 'D' matches of the competition will be held in Guwahati and five teams will compete here which are North East United FC, Odisha FC, Army Green, Kerala Blasters, and Sudeva Delhi FC.

Notably, this is a golden opportunity for NEUFC, the Highlanders, to earn their first-ever major club honour and to end their trophy drought. The Guwahati-based club finished 10th in the previous ISL season, hence they went through major changes in the top management in the hope of future glory days.

New Head Coach Marco Balbul already joined the side in Guwahati.

On the other hand, OFC is yet to win any silverware since the inception of the club back in 2014 as Delhi Dynamos FC. The change in the base from the country's capital city to Bhubaneswar has instilled a spark in their approach however, they are still far away from fulfilling the expectations.

The build-up to the game will see a short but elaborate and lively opening ceremony, with bands of the Armed Forces on display as well as a performance by star singers Angarag Mahanta (Papon) and Rewben Mashangwa, of the tournament theme song.

The opening ceremony will start at 4-30 pm today and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.

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