The Assam city is the new locations for the 132nd Durand Cup football competition, which will take place from August 3 to September 3, Kokrajhar in Assam.
Lt. Gen. R.P. Kalita, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Command, of the Indian Army, remarked on the occasion of the announcement of the new host cities on Wednesday, “We are extremely happy that we are taking the legend of Durand this year to Shillong. Kokrajhar has also been added as a new host city and this will help grow the sport in Assam.”
The Durand Cup 2022 had participation from 20 different teams. For the next edition, the event is anticipated to grow. There are 24 clubs this season, including 12 ISL teams, 6 I-League clubs, and 5 Army clubs into 4 groups.
However, of these groups, Kolkata will host Group A, Group B, and Group C, making it the only city to host multiple tournament events. On September 3, 2023, the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata will host the Durand Cup 2023’s final game.
The Group D and Group E matches will be played at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. Moreover the SAI Centre Ground in Kokrajhar, the tournament’s newest host city, will host nine games in total, including one of the quarterfinal matches.
The annual domestic football game kicks off the domestic football season in India. Shillong Lajong FC will take part in the future edition. Kokrajhar moreover will host the 2023 Durand Cup competition. There will also be games in Guwahati and Kolkata.
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Durand Cup- venues
The stadium in Kolkata, the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, has an 85,000-seat capacity. Kokrajhar’s SAI Special Area Game Centre has a 10,000-seat capacity. Moreover, Guwahati’s Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium has a 30,000-seat capacity.
The West Bengal clubs have dominated the Durand Cup since its establishment in 1888. The most successful teams are Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who have each won the Durand16 times.
For the most consecutive victories in a row, three, moreover Mohun Bagan (1963, 1964, 1965 and 1984, 1985, 1986) and East Bengal (1989, 1990, 1991) retain the record.
The reigning Durand Cup champion is Bengaluru FC. Last year, Mumbai City FC lost to Sunil Chhetri and company 2-1 in the championship game in Kolkata. In the earlier iteration of the competition, they won. Thanks to goals from Alan Costa and N.Sivasakthi.
The Durand Cup 2023 will include 43 matches, including the much-anticipated final. Two of the four quarterfinal matches in the knockout stage will be hosted in Guwahati and Kokrajhar, adding to the enthusiasm in both cities. Moreover, the remaining knockout matches, including the semifinals and final, will be held in Kolkata, the tournament’s historic stronghold.
Hopefully, the three host towns of Kolkata, Guwahati, and Kokrajhar will see full attendance for the duration of the Durand for the second time since the epidemic.
Where can one watch the live telecast of the Durand Cup 2023 in India?
The live telecast of the Durand Cup 2023 is likely to be available on the Sports18 Network TV channels.
Where can one live-stream the Durand Cup 2023 in India?
The live stream of the Durand Cup 2023 is likely to be available on the JioTV App for Jio users and on the Voot App and website for subscribers.
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