What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
New Delhi: The 63rd edition of the Subroto Cup is set to kick off on August 5, hosted in Delhi NCR and Bengaluru. This prestigious tournament will feature a total of 200 football matches across three categories: Junior Boys, Junior Girls, and Sub-Junior Boys. An impressive 111 teams will participate this year, with the opening ceremony taking place at Dr Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi, where AOA will serve as the chief guest. Notably, only the Sub-Junior Boys (U-15) category will have matches in Bengaluru, while the finals for the other categories will be held at Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi.
This edition will be historic as it marks the first time participation of teams from Ladakh and Punjab. Additionally, international teams from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal will compete. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will participate in all three categories, while Bhutan and Nepal will compete in the Sub-Junior Boys (U-15) and Junior Boys (U-17) categories, respectively.
An official announcement was made in Delhi on Wednesday, attended by Air Marshal RK Anand VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Administration & Vice Chairman of the Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society (SMSES), who was the Chief Guest. Paralympic legend Dr. Deepa Malik, Padma Shri, and Khel Ratna awardee, also graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.
ALSO READ: In Pictures: Students protest over Delhi coaching deaths| Day 3 – THE NEW INDIAN
Air Marshal RK Anand VSM, in his address to the press, remarked, “The 63rd Subroto Cup will indeed be historic given that the most number of teams in the long history of the tournament will be participating in this edition. The Indian Air Force and SMSES have been committed to making the tournament bigger and better every year, providing a platform for young kids to take the next step in their careers. I congratulate all the teams who have qualified for the tournament and wish them all the very best. May they play the game in the true spirit of sportsmanship.”
India’s oldest national inter-school football competition has made history by including Bengaluru alongside the host cities Delhi and Gurugram in the previous edition. This 63rd edition will feature matches at eight locations across Delhi and Bengaluru. In Delhi, matches will be held at Dr Ambedkar Stadium, Tejas Football Ground, Race Course, KIIT World School, and GD Goenka Global School. Bengaluru will host matches at ASC Centre Football Ground, Air Force School Jalahalli Football Ground, Air Force School Yelahanka Football Ground, and HQ Training Command Football Ground.
ALSO READ: Highlights of 2024 Army Day Parade in Lucknow – THE NEW INDIAN
When asked about the potential presence of any Indian or international football chief guests, Air Marshal RK Anand mentioned, “We are in the process of finalising this, or we might contact an Indian Olympian for the chief guest.” He added, “Besides the matches, the players will visit some notable places in Delhi, such as the PM Museum or archaeological sites.”
In a significant step towards nurturing grassroots football talent, the best player from the Junior Boys & Girls (U-17) categories will be given exposure at the Indian Football Centre in Austria/Germany, emphasizing the Indian Air Force’s dedication to the development of young footballers.
