BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Friday, June 12, 2026 congratulated the girls' football team of Sainik School Sujanpur Tira in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, after the side clinched the National Under-17 All India Football Championship (Pre-Subroto Cup 2026), defeating Sainik School Chandrapur 3-1 via penalties in the final to earn a berth in the prestigious Subroto Cup.

Context

Thakur, who represents the Hamirpur constituency in Lok Sabha and previously served as Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, described the achievement as a 'proud moment for Hamirpur and Himachal.' The team navigated a field of all 111 Sainik Schools across India to emerge champions in the national pre-qualifier, a result Thakur called a display of 'exceptional grit, teamwork and determination.'

The win earns Sujanpur Tira a direct entry into the main draw of the Subroto Cup 2026, the annual inter-school football tournament organised by the Indian Air Force and one of the oldest and most competitive school-level football competitions in the country.

Policy Backdrop

Sainik School Sujanpur Tira is part of the network of residential schools administered by the Sainik Schools Society under the Ministry of Defence, established from 1961 onwards with the primary aim of preparing students for entry into the National Defence Academy and the armed forces. Sports and physical discipline form a core pillar of the curriculum alongside academics and NCC training.

The Subroto Cup was instituted in 1960, named after former Indian Air Force Chief Subroto Mukerjee, and has since grown into a landmark platform for identifying school-level football talent nationwide. The Ministry of Defence has in recent years actively expanded the Sainik School network and encouraged greater participation of girls in sports and defence-oriented education.

Stakeholders and Impact

The result is a significant milestone for Himachal Pradesh, a hill state whose Sainik School network has historically punched above its weight in national defence and sports competitions. For the players and coaching staff at Sujanpur Tira, the national championship title and a Subroto Cup berth represent the highest level of school-football recognition available in India.

Broader efforts to promote women's football at the grassroots level — including through defence-run institutions — stand to benefit from high-visibility wins of this kind, which can encourage enrolment and participation among young girls in the region.

What's Next

The Sainik School Sujanpur Tira girls' team will now represent their school at the main Subroto Cup 2026, where they will compete against top school sides from across the country. A strong showing at the Subroto Cup could open pathways for individual players to be noticed by state and national youth football selectors. Their journey from a pre-qualifier field of 111 schools to the national stage will be closely watched as a marker of how defence-school sports programmes are shaping the next generation of Indian women footballers.