At a ceremony conducted at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on Wednesday, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma officially opened the tournament's trophy road show in the state by unveiling the trophy of the 134th Indian Oil Durand Cup 2025.
The unveiling highlights Meghalaya's rising prominence as a center for youth development centered around sports and sets the setting for one of the oldest and most famous football tournaments in the world.
"I thank the Indian Armed Forces for selecting Shillong once again as one of the host venues. Eight matches, including a quarterfinal and a semifinal, will be played at JN Sports Complex. We had a memorable edition last year, and this year promises to be even better, especially with more local teams participating,” said Chief Minister Sangma.
Before the competition starts, the public will have a unique opportunity to see the historic trophies up close thanks to the trophy road show, which will travel around Shillong, Nongstoin, and Tura. Three Meghalayan teams—the Meghalaya Police Football Team, Ryntih Sports Club, and Shillong Lajong FC—will compete in the Durand Cup this year.
The Chief Minister also emphasized the enormous expenditures made in sports facilities over the previous seven years, totaling around Rs 2,000 crore. One such project is the Mawkhanu Sports Complex, which is expected to be the biggest football stadium in India.