Govt High School Kohima and Home Mission School Aizawl play out draw as 63rd Subroto Cup gets underway in New Delhi

Chief Guest Air Marshal R.K. Anand VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Administration & Vice Chairman Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society kicks off the Subroto Cup football tournament in New Delhi. 

Khel Today Bureau

New Delhi: The 63rd edition of the Subroto Cup International Football Tournament commenced in spectacular fashion today here at the historic Dr. B.R Ambedkar Stadium. In the featured game of Group G which followed Govt High School Kohima and Home Mission School, 1 Mizo BN NCC, Aizawl  played out a goalless draw in the Junior Girls (Under 17) tournament, which got underway earlier in the day.

Chief Guest Air Marshal R.K. Anand VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Administration & Vice Chairman Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society felicitating Guest of Honour, Jyoti Chauhan (India’s women’s national football team star). 

The tournament was declared open after a grand opening ceremony, by the Chief Guest Air Marshal R.K. Anand VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Administration & Vice Chairman Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society. Also present was India’s women’s national football team star Jyoti Chauhan, who was the Guest of Honour. 

Chief Guest Air Marshal R.K. Anand VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Administration & Vice Chairman Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society, Guest of Honour, Jyoti Chauhan (India’s women’s national football team star) and Air Force officials with Nagaland and NCC Junior Girls U-17Team. 

The ceremony was marked by vibrant performances, including an enthralling routine by the Air Warriors Drill Team and a cultural performance by students from the Air Force School.

In his opening address, Air Marshal R.K. Anand VSM declared, “The 63rd Subroto Cup is a testament to the enduring spirit of football in India. The record participation this year highlights the growing interest and talent in grassroots football and I am confident that this tournament will not only showcase the skills of these young athletes but also inspire many more to take up the sport. 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.”

Guest of Honour Jyoti Chauhan added, “It is an absolute honour to be part of this prestigious tournament. Watching these young girls play with such passion and determination is truly inspiring. The Subroto Cup is an excellent platform for budding footballers to shine, and I wish all the teams the very best for the matches ahead.”

Nagaland and NCC Junior Girls U-17 Teams in action. 

The featured Group G match between Home Mission School, 1 Mizo BN NCC, from Aizawl, Mizoram and Govt. High School, Kohima from Nagaland then followed and while the NCC side did have the better of exchanges, with specially their diminutive striker Marthy winning everyone’s hearts, both sides did not score and it ended in a goalless draw.

In the other matches of the day at the GD Goenka World School, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya beat Coast Guard Public School, Nani Daman 4-1 while Sri Lanka School Football Association played out a 2-2 draw against Betkuchi High School, Guwahati in the opening matches of Group A. 

In Group C at the KIIT Global School Ground, The Porompat Sabal Leikai High School, Manipur thumped Army Public School, Patiala 9-0 while SRV Govt. Model Higher Secondary School, Kerala won by walkover over Govt. Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22A, Chandigarh. 

A total of 34 teams divided into eight groups, including teams from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will be competing for honours in the Junior Girls category. The group winners from each group will qualify for the knockouts, culminating in the finals on August 13th, 2024, at Ambedkar Stadium.

Besides Ambedkar Stadium, the Tejas Football Ground in New Delhi and the G.D. Goenka Global School and KIIT World School in Gurugram will also host matches for the Junior Girls category.

RESULTS

GROUP A

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya bt Coast Guard Public School, Nani Daman – 4-1

Sri Lanka School Football Association played drew Betkuchi High School, Guwahati, Assam – 2-2

GROUP C 

The Porompat Sabal Leikai High School, Manipur bt Army Public School, Patiala – 9-0 

SRV Govt. Model Higher Secondary School, Kerala wo Govt. Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22A, Chandigarh  

GROUP G

Govt. High School, Kohima, Nagaland drew Home Mission School, 1 Mizo BN NCC, Aizawl – 0-0.