- Ranchi gears up to host the 135th Durand Cup from July 26; senior Army and state officials brief CM on tournament preparations
Jharkhand News : Preparations are in full swing for the 135th Durand Cup 2026, one of Asia’s oldest and most prestigious football tournaments, which is set to begin in Ranchi on July 26. On Thursday, a delegation of senior Army and state government officials met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren at his Kanke Road residence and formally invited him to attend the opening ceremony and inaugural match as the Chief Guest.
The delegation included Mukesh Kumar, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs; Sports Director Chhavi Ranjan; Major General Sajjan Singh Mann, General Officer Commanding, 23 Infantry Brigade Group (IBG); Colonel Hem Chandra, Durand Cup Nodal Officer; and Major Anand Prakash, Assistant Nodal Officer.
During the meeting, the officials briefed the Chief Minister on the tournament’s preparations, event schedule, and arrangements for the opening ceremony. They also requested his presence at the inaugural event and the first match.
The 135th edition of the Durand Cup will kick off on July 26, 2026, with Ranchi among the host cities for the prestigious tournament. Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s participation as the Chief Guest is expected to add significance to the opening ceremony and highlight Jharkhand’s growing role in promoting football and hosting major sporting events.
