Are You Ready for the Subroto Cup Kicking Off on August 19?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 106 teams competing across three categories.
- First matches kick off on August 19.
- Venues include prestigious football grounds in Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru.
- Opportunities for young players to shine and advance their careers.
- Focus on promoting grassroots sports in India.
New Delhi, Aug 12 (NationPress) The esteemed Subroto Cup International Football Tournament is set to commence its 64th edition featuring 106 teams competing for glory in three categories: Junior Boys, Junior Girls, and Sub-Junior. The event will take place in Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru from August 19 to September 25.
An official announcement was made during a press conference at the Akash Officer’s Mess in the national capital on Tuesday, attended by Air Marshal S Sivakumar VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Administration & Vice Chairman of the Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society (SMSES), who was the chief guest. Renowned Indian footballer Dalima Chhibber also honored the event as the Guest of Honour.
The Subroto Cup, organized by the Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society under the auspices of the Air Force Sports Control Board, began in 1960 and is named after Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee, who envisioned this tournament to enhance grassroots sports.
The tournament kicks off on August 19 with the Junior Girls (Under 17) category in Delhi-NCR. Matches for the Sub-Junior Boys (Under 15) category will be held in Bengaluru starting September 2, while the final phase, featuring the Junior Boys (Under 17), will commence on September 16 in Delhi-NCR.
During the gathering, Air Marshal S Sivakumar VSM expressed, "The Indian Air Force and SMSES are dedicated to enhancing the tournament annually, creating opportunities for young athletes to advance their careers. I extend my congratulations to all teams qualifying for this prestigious event and wish them the best while upholding the true spirit of sportsmanship."
Dalima Chhibber remarked, "Returning to the Subroto Cup is an honor; it was where my journey began in 2011 with the inaugural Women’s Under-17 tournament. This competition inspires young talents and provides them with a platform to showcase their abilities, with many players advancing to national teams. Let's support this tournament for the betterment of our sport."
As part of the Indian Tiger & Tigresses campaign, seven players will be chosen from the scouting rounds for advanced football training in Germany.
Matches will be held at prestigious venues including the Ambedkar Stadium, Tejas Football Ground, Subroto Park Football Ground, and Pinto Park Football Ground in Delhi-NCR. In Bengaluru, games will take place at the Air Force School, Jalahalli, Air Force School, Yelahanka, and the HQ Training Command Football Ground.
The tournament will feature 106 teams representing various states, union territories (UTs), and educational institutions, alongside teams from four international countries. Over 200 football matches are scheduled across all categories.
To ensure fair play, an age determination test will be conducted for the Sub-Junior Boys category in Bengaluru.
The TG English School from Bishnupur, Manipur are the defending champions in the Junior Boys category, while Mother International School, Ranchi, Jharkhand retained their title in the Junior Girls category last year. The Nongiri Presbyterian Secondary School from Meghalaya claimed the Sub-Junior Boys title in the last edition.